— Osigwe Says Election Survived Cyberattack, Urges Winners To Unite Bar
The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association has declared Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya winner of the 2026 NBA presidential election and the 33rd President of the Association.
The ECNBA Chairman, Aham Ejelam, SAN, announced the results at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja after the conclusion of the election on Sunday.
According to the results announced by the Committee, Badejo-Okusanya polled 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the total votes cast for the office of President.
Her closest challenger, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, secured 7,934 votes, representing 30.39 per cent, while Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, polled 5,855 votes, representing 22.43 per cent.
The presidential poll recorded 26,106 votes from 82,172 registered voters, with the ECNBA putting the participation rate at 31.86 per cent.
Other elected officers announced by the Committee include Oghenero Okoro, who polled 11,024 votes to emerge First Vice President, and Afam Okeke, who secured 8,478 votes to become General Secretary.
Also elected were Aghogho Gladys, who won the office of Assistant General Secretary with 14,312 votes, and Chinelo Ofoegbunam, who emerged Welfare Secretary after polling 14,911 votes.
Speaking after the announcement of the results, the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the election withstood attempts to undermine the process, including a cyberattack which he said forced the ECNBA to rebuild and migrate its ICT infrastructure to a more secure server.
“Our colleagues planned to truncate the election but we stood firm. Every effort to derail this process failed. This is a trying time for the Bar. In the build-up to this election, many went to a great extent to rubbish the association,” Osigwe said.
He urged the newly elected officers to be magnanimous in victory and called on those who lost to rally behind the incoming leadership.
“To those who won, be magnanimous in victory; for those who lost, there is always another day. The cyberattack shows that we must do more in data protection. Let us collectively do things in an acceptable manner,” he said.
Osigwe added that the story would one day be told of how the election was almost sabotaged, stressing that the NBA, as a body of lawyers, must be able to determine the course of its own electoral process.
“We must be able to promote the rule of law, and the NBA, made up of lawyers, should be able to determine the course of its electoral process. Where we made mistakes, I believe my successor will correct them,” he said.
He further urged the winners to extend a hand of fellowship to those who lost, saying the unity of the Bar must remain paramount.
“Winners should extend the hands of fellowship to those who lost and have a united front to move the Bar forward. The unity of the Bar cannot and should never be negotiated. As I now bow out, I wish the new EXCO all the very best in office,” Osigwe said.
The NBA President also warned against any situation where the leadership of the Association would be determined by persons outside the legal profession.
“May we never see the day when those who lead us will be elected by people other than lawyers,” he added.
Osigwe said the ECNBA would undertake a comprehensive review of the election, particularly the challenges encountered during the exercise, with a view to strengthening future NBA polls, improving the Association’s cybersecurity framework and enhancing the credibility of its electoral process.
