Lawyer Calls on New NBA President to Unite the Bar

Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and legal scholar, has urged the president-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, to focus on unity and reconciliation as she gets ready to lead Africa's largest group of lawyers.

Mr Pinheiro made this call in a congratulatory statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday after Mrs Badejo-Okusanya was elected as the first woman to be directly voted president of the NBA by its members.

He described the president-elect as a skilled lawyer and a unifier. He said her election is a significant moment for the NBA and the legal field in Nigeria.

But he also pointed out that she takes office during a period of serious divisions within the association that could weaken its power if not addressed.

"The Bar is currently divided along several lines, generational, ideological, and sometimes personal," he noted. "Healing these divisions and creating a truly united and inclusive Bar must be at the core of your agenda."

He emphasized that bringing unity back to the association is not just an internal goal but a national necessity. The NBA has a long history of defending democracy, promoting judicial independence, and fighting against abuse of power.

"A divided Bar cannot effectively promote the rule of law, protect lawyers' welfare, or speak with the moral authority needed to push for justice and good governance," he stressed.

Mr Pinheiro added that the strength of the NBA relies on its ability to speak with one voice on issues affecting the legal profession and the nation. He warned that internal divisions could lessen its impact on public policy and holding institutions accountable.

His comments come after Saturday's NBA election, which not only introduced new leadership but also raised concerns about voter participation and the electronic voting process.

Mrs Badejo-Okusanya, also a Senior Advocate and the only woman among the three presidential candidates, won the election with 12,317 votes, which is 47.18 percent of the 26,106 valid votes cast.

She defeated Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, who received 7,934 votes (30.39 percent), and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, also a SAN, who got 5,855 votes (22.43 percent).

The election, which took place electronically over 24 hours, also filled 12 other national offices in the NBA. Oghenero Okoro is the new first vice-president, while Egya Nuhu John and Pepple Irene were elected as second and third vice-presidents, respectively.

Afam Okeke is now the general secretary, and Aghogho Gladys Okpomor is the assistant general secretary. Esther Ifeoma Jimoh is the treasurer, Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam is the welfare secretary, Prince I. Azubuike is the publicity secretary, and Uwomano Anthony Junior Aki is the assistant publicity secretary.

Lawyers also elected Chidi Betsy Nnaji, Rotimi Komolafe, and Huwaila Muhammad Ibrahim to represent the Eastern, Western, and Northern zones on the General Council of the Bar.

Despite the importance of the election, voter turnout was low. Out of 82,172 lawyers registered to vote, only 26,184 participated, making a turnout of 31.86 percent.

After the results were announced on Sunday, Mrs Badejo-Okusanya accepted her victory and called it a mandate to create a stronger and more inclusive association.

She expressed gratitude to lawyers nationwide for believing in her campaign vision, "A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone," stating that the result belonged to every member who wanted the NBA to better meet their needs.

The president-elect also praised her opponents for strengthening the association's democratic culture and promised to lead with integrity, courage, humility, fairness, and accountability.

She vowed to focus on lawyers' welfare while creating an NBA where members can "earn better, live better, and practice better."

Still, her victory did not resolve the ongoing controversy over the election.

Mr Akangbe rejected the results, calling the process "shambolic." He claimed technical issues prevented many lawyers from voting.

He accused the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) of poor planning and changing the election schedule without approval from the National Executive Council.

He also alleged that the voting platform faced many problems, including repeated authentication failures and incorrect delivery of one-time passwords. He claimed there were also reports of multiple voting.

Mr Akangbe further questioned the committee's management of the election, saying only Mrs Badejo-Okusanya's photo appeared correctly on the ballot at first.

He mentioned that he is considering legal options after asking to preserve all voting records and conduct an independent audit of the voting system.

The outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, a SAN, defended the election's integrity. He said the process survived a cyberattack that disrupted voting for hours before the ECNBA moved it to a more secure server.

Mr Osigwe recognized the challenges faced during the election but insisted they did not undermine its credibility.

He stated that the ECNBA would review the election to learn from the technical difficulties and improve future voting processes.

He urged lawyers to put the election behind them and support the new leadership.

"This is a time for healing. In the end, the Bar must be the ultimate winner," he said, calling on the newly elected officers to be gracious in victory and work towards uniting the association.

Call for Reconciliation

In this context, Mr Pinheiro urged Mrs Badejo-Okusanya to prioritize reconciliation in her leadership. He argued that rebuilding trust among members is key to strengthening the NBA's influence on national issues.

He stated that a united Bar would be better able to protect judicial independence, uphold democracy, and advocate for justice and good governance in Nigeria.

Mr Pinheiro noted that the new leadership has a rare chance not only to heal the divisions from the election but also to bridge long-standing gaps within the association.

He expressed confidence that Mrs Badejo-Okusanya has the experience and leadership style needed to bring the Bar together and make it more relevant.

Badejo-Okusanya’s Historic Victory

Mrs Badejo-Okusanya’s election at 59 is a significant moment in the NBA’s 66-year history.

While Priscilla Kuye was the first female president in 1991, Mrs Badejo-Okusanya is the first woman elected directly by the votes of the NBA's members.

Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, she studied English before earning a law degree from the University of Lagos.

She became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2025 and is known for her work in commercial dispute resolution, arbitration, and legal practice management.

She is set to be sworn in as the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association during the Annual General Conference from 21 to 28 August in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Pinheiro Pledges Support

In closing, Mr Pinheiro promised to support the new administration. He is hopeful that the new leadership will create a stronger and united Bar that reinforces its historic role in defending the rule of law and democracy in Nigeria.

"If you succeed in uniting the Bar, you will not only strengthen our profession but also support one of Nigeria’s most important institutions for justice and public interest," he said.