The President-Elect of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has said she is ready to subject herself to a post-election audit, stressing that she has no desire for her victory in the 2026 NBA National Officers Election to be delegitimised.
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Speaking during a television interview after her emergence as NBA President-Elect, Badejo-Okusanya said her victory was humbling, especially because over 12,000 lawyers voted for her and entrusted her with the responsibility of leading the Association.
She said the election was hard-fought and came with lessons in politics and life, but described the outcome as a humbling experience.
“It was a hard-fought one. It was an education in politics, in life, but a humbling experience, because when you put yourself out there trying to convince colleagues that you have what it takes to lead them, and then somehow you are able to achieve that, and over 12,000 people put their trust in you, cast their votes for you, that is humbling,” she said.
Badejo-Okusanya said she was not unmindful of the huge responsibility ahead, adding that she must justify the trust reposed in her by those who voted for her and other members of the Bar.
On the historical significance of her election, she corrected what she described as a misconception about the Dame Priscilla Kuye, who is widely recognised as the first female President of the NBA.
According to Badejo-Okusanya, Kuye actually contested and won election as First Vice-President of the Association against strong opponents before stepping into the office of NBA President after the then President, late Clement Akpamgbo, SAN, became Attorney-General of the Federation.
She explained that while Kuye did not contest directly for the office of NBA President, she won an election within the NBA leadership structure and later became President after the office became vacant.
Badejo-Okusanya said her own election was therefore historic because she is the first woman to be elected directly as NBA President, while also becoming the second woman to lead the Association.
Speaking on what the victory means for women, the NBA President-Elect said she had met women across the country who told her that her aspiration inspired them.
She recalled that a woman in Yola told her that because she was running for NBA President, she felt she could do anything.
According to her, women in professional settings often start in large numbers but reduce significantly as they rise to the top because of cultural expectations, social responsibilities, family obligations and the difficult environment many women are forced to navigate.
She said many women are high achievers academically, but only a fraction end up at the very top of professional practice, not because they lack capacity, but because the environment can be toxic or difficult for women.
Addressing allegations that she was a government candidate, that she was imposed, that her region did not support her, or that the election was rigged in her favour, Badejo-Okusanya said it was unpleasant to hear suggestions that she could only win if an election was manipulated.
“First of all, it is not very pleasant to imagine that people think that unless an election is rigged in my favour, I cannot win an election,” she said.
She acknowledged that there has been a trust deficit in the NBA regarding elections, adding that whether right or wrong, perception often becomes reality.
According to her, the perception that NBA elections are rigged is one that must be addressed by the Association.
Badejo-Okusanya, however, said she was grateful for the level of scrutiny that attended the 2026 election, arguing that the intense scrutiny made it difficult for the process to be compromised.
“As for this election cycle, I am grateful for the scrutiny that it came under, because right-thinking individuals will understand that this election cycle could not have come under this much scrutiny and yet be compromised,” she said.
She added that she was prepared to submit herself to a post-election audit if necessary.
“I can beat my chest, and I have said that if need be, I will subject myself to a post-election audit, because I also have no desire for my win to be delegitimised in any way,” she stated.
The NBA President-Elect said the Bar must now have an honest conversation about how to conduct its elections in a manner that commands the confidence of the greatest number of members.
She said the Association must collectively devise a system that will make its electoral process respected and trusted.
Responding to criticisms from her co-contestants and their supporters, Badejo-Okusanya said every contest produces winners and losers, but urged members of the Bar to move on, come together and build a better Association.
She said she understood some of the issues that informed the thinking of those dissatisfied with the election, but called for dialogue and reconciliation.
“I understand the issues that have informed some of their thinking, and I think we should just come together, accept the outcome and then work together to build a better Bar,” she said.
Badejo-Okusanya noted that she had always maintained a cordial relationship with her co-contestants and deliberately resolved not to lose friends or make enemies because of the election.
She said she intends to reach out to them and seek their support, stressing that dialogue can resolve many of the issues arising from the contest.
“I have every intention of reaching out to them, every intention of seeking their support. There is nothing that cannot be solved by dialogue,” she said.
The President-Elect said uniting the Bar would be a major priority of her administration, adding that the NBA cannot move forward without unity and a stronger sense of collective ownership.
According to her, the Association must avoid constantly exposing its internal divisions in a manner that weakens its moral authority before the larger society.
“If we continue to wash our dirty linen in public and not show a good example to the rest of society, then we do not have any moral justification,” she said.
Badejo-Okusanya said the only way forward is to unite the Bar, restore confidence and work collectively toward building a stronger Nigerian Bar Association.
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