Lagos-based lawyer and risk analyst, Eleojo Maxwell, Esq., has described the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association presidential election as a defining moment for the legal profession, saying lawyers must decide whether the NBA will remain passive in the face of threats to the rule of law or become a fearless defender of democracy and constitutionalism.
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In an article titled “Will The NBA Be Bold To Elect Its First Female President? A Defining Moment For The Nigerian Bar,” Maxwell said the election scheduled for July 18, 2026, presents lawyers with an opportunity to choose the leader who will guide the Association for the next two years.
He noted that while the race features distinguished Senior Advocates and accomplished practitioners, the candidacy of Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, stands out because of what he described as her bold vision, moral clarity and focus on the urgent challenges facing lawyers.
Maxwell said the past few years had tested the Nigerian legal profession, citing pressure on the judiciary, strain on the rule of law, and executive actions which he described as reckless and overreaching.
He recalled the controversial removal of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, describing it as a scar on the collective memory of the profession.
He also referred to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the removal of a democratically elected governor and state assembly without due process, saying such developments raise serious questions about the role of the NBA when constitutional order is threatened.
According to him, the Bar must ask itself whether it should continue as a passive observer while the foundations of justice are weakened, or rise to become a courageous guardian of the rule of law.
Maxwell said these issues are not abstract, but go to the heart of the identity of lawyers as officers in the temple of justice.
He said that although several qualified candidates are seeking to succeed the outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, he was persuaded by Badejo-Okusanya’s message after reviewing the manifestos, listening to the candidates and weighing their visions.
He described Badejo-Okusanya, the only female candidate in the race, as a candidate whose appeal is not based merely on novelty, but on necessity.
According to him, she envisions an NBA that is independent, economically empowered and courageous enough to speak truth to power.
Maxwell said Badejo-Okusanya has shown understanding of the frustration of young lawyers who are uncertain about their future in the profession, as well as senior lawyers struggling with rising costs and questioning the value of NBA membership.
He said these concerns are urgent realities that should not be postponed.
He highlighted the five pillars of Badejo-Okusanya’s manifesto as Earn Better, Spend Less to Practise, Live Better, Be Protected, and Belong to a Bar that Works.
At the centre of the manifesto, he said, is the idea that Nigerian lawyers must move from merely surviving to truly thriving.
Maxwell said the election also offers the NBA an opportunity to make history by electing a female president more than three decades after the Association was led by a woman.
He added, however, that the issue is not only about breaking a glass ceiling, but about removing the limiting belief that certain opportunities belong only to a select few.
He argued that when young female lawyers can look at the NBA and see possibility instead of barriers, the profession becomes stronger.
According to him, the Bar is elevated when lawyers believe that merit, service and competence matter more than gender, ethnicity, religion or background.
Maxwell said the “fierce urgency of now” requires restoring economic dignity to lawyers, reforming the NBA to serve members effectively, creating real opportunities for growth and protection, and building a Bar where every member truly belongs.
He described Badejo-Okusanya, fondly called “Mrs. B,” as a bridge between the old and the new — experienced yet innovative, principled yet pragmatic.
Maxwell warned that some forces may attempt to stop her on the basis of primordial sentiments and outdated excuses, but said history would not be kind to any generation that sacrifices competence and vision for prejudice.
He called on young lawyers, female lawyers and all members who believe in a profession driven by ideas, innovation and excellence to view the election as a moment to shape the future of the Bar.
Quoting William Shakespeare’s famous line on taking the tide at the right time, Maxwell said Nigerian lawyers are now at such a moment and must choose wisely for the future of the Association and the soul of the nation.
He concluded by urging lawyers to be bold, courageous and deliberate in deciding the direction of the NBA.
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