NBA Elects Badejo-Okusanya President Amid Technical Glitches, Manipulation Allegations

By Correspondent

NBA Elects Badejo-Okusanya President Amid Technical Glitches, Manipulation Allegations
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), emerging victorious in a keenly contested national election that also produced 12 other national officers.

The declaration followed an electronic voting process that was marred by technical disruptions, delayed accreditation, voting hitches and widespread allegations of manipulation, prompting sharp criticism from some contestants and members of the legal profession.

Badejo-Okusanya defeated fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, to become the new leader of the country’s umbrella body for legal practitioners. The election also produced officers for other national positions, including the offices of First Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Welfare Secretary, Assistant Welfare Secretary, Legal Adviser and Assistant Legal Adviser.

However, the election was overshadowed by complaints over the integrity of the process. Lawyers across the country reported difficulties accessing the electronic voting platform, while several voters experienced delays and technical failures during accreditation and voting. The exercise had already been preceded by weeks of disputes over the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), the voting platform, voter authentication and allegations of external interference.

One of the presidential contenders, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe (SAN), raised concerns during the election over the conduct of the process, questioning aspects of the electronic voting system and calling attention to irregularities that, according to him, affected the credibility of the poll. His campaign had earlier objected to changes in the election timetable and repeatedly sought assurances on the integrity of the process.

Supporters of rival candidates also alleged that the election suffered from manipulation, with some claiming that the process lacked transparency and disadvantaged sections of the electorate. Critics pointed to technical failures, delayed access to voting portals and inconsistencies in the administration of the poll as evidence that the process fell short of the standards expected of the country’s foremost legal association.

Despite the controversy, the Electoral Committee proceeded with collation and announced Badejo-Okusanya as the winner, making her the new President of the NBA. She is expected to lead the association at a time when many members are calling for comprehensive reforms of the association’s electoral process to restore confidence in future elections.