By Staff Writer, 247ureports.com
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has officially declared Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (popularly known on social media as @MrsBBold), as the President-elect of the association.
She emerges as the 33rd President of the premium legal body, breaking a 34-year-old glass ceiling to become only the second female president in the NBA’s history since its inception in 1933, following Dame Priscilla Kuye’s historic leadership in 1992.
The Vote Tally
Despite early electronic voting delays triggered by a coordinated cyberattack on the voting portal, the ECNBA successfully concluded the process, with the final dashboard breakdown showing a decisive victory for Badejo-Okusanya:
- Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN: 12,317 votes (47.18%)
- Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN: 7,934 votes (30.39%)
- Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN: 5,855 votes (22.43%)
Total Presidential Votes Cast: 26,106 ballots
In the other highly contested national race, Mr. Afam Okeke emerged victorious as the incoming General Secretary of the legal body after polling 8,478 votes. The new executive team will steer the affairs of the Bar for a two-year term spanning 2026 to 2028.
Overcoming the Digital Glitch
The election, which was shifted to Saturday, July 18, saw tension peak early in the morning when the ECNBA’s electronic voting platform experienced severe authentication and OTP delivery glitches. The independent electoral committee confirmed that external actors launched a cyberattack in an attempt to compromise the integrity of the database.
However, system penetration fixes allowed the portal to stay live for a full 24-hour cycle, closing on Sunday morning, July 19, before the official declaration of results at the NBA Headquarters in Abuja.
Representatives from the President-elect’s campaign indicated that Badejo-Okusanya plans to immediately extend a “handshake of friendship” to her opponents to unify the Bar following a competitive campaign season.
