Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria will contest the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association on July 18, with lawyers across the country set to vote for new national leadership in what has become one of the most closely watched legal elections in recent memory.
The three candidates cleared by the Electoral Committee of the NBA are Olumuyiwa Akinboro, Lateef Akangbe, and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya. They are competing to succeed incumbent NBA President Afam Osigwe, who has publicly declared he will not back any of the three aspirants.
“The three persons running for office each approached me to support them, but I’m not supporting any person,” Osigwe said in a Wednesday interview, adding that he had no role in the electoral process.
NBA Election Controversy Over Alleged Postponement Plot
The July 18 vote has not been without turbulence. A purported report linked to a mediation meeting convened by the Attorney General of the Federation recommended that the election be suspended, that the Electoral Committee be dissolved, and that broader electoral reforms be carried out before any poll.
The NBA and its Electoral Committee have rejected those recommendations outright. The association insists it is an independent professional body, not subject to federal government direction, and that only its National Executive Council has the authority to postpone any election. The committee has confirmed voting will proceed as scheduled.
The association’s position has drawn broad support from within the legal community, with candidates and branch officials alike insisting the election must go ahead.
Akinboro and Akangbe Pitch Reform Agendas to Nigerian Bar Association Members
Akinboro was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991 after graduating from Lagos State University. He is the principal partner of Akinboro & Co. and previously served as general secretary of the NBA between 2010 and 2012. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Harvard-trained negotiator.
His campaign focuses on member welfare, mentorship, inclusion, and the protection of the rule of law. Akinboro announced he will boycott the official presidential debate, a decision he framed as consistent with his broader vision for the association.
“This election is about the soul of our profession and the future we are building together. I am still here, I am still listening, and I am still fighting for the bar we all deserve,” he said.
Akangbe is the managing partner and head of dispute resolution at Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe, and Belgore. He was called to the Bar in 2003 after earning degrees from the University of Wolverhampton, the University of Westminster, and the University of South Wales. He is a former chairman of the NBA Lagos branch and a member of the Body of Benchers.
His campaign is built around a five-point agenda tagged I-DARE, covering institutional reforms, digital transformation, improved remuneration, judicial independence, and lawyers’ welfare. Among his proposals are a unified digital platform called NBA One, enforcement of the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Order, and free access to legal research materials for young lawyers.
“This is I-DARE. Five pillars. Specific commitments. Delivery timelines. Measurable outcomes. Not a theme. A program,” Akangbe said.
He has also criticized the debate format, arguing that the exercise did not give candidates sufficient opportunity to engage substantively on the issues facing the profession.
Badejo-Okunsanya Bids to Become First Female NBA President
Badejo-Okunsanya is the only female candidate in the NBA presidential election and the most recently elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, having received the honor in 2025. She was called to the bar in 2002 after studying English and law at the University of Lagos.
She is a partner and co-head of litigation and dispute resolution at ALP NG and Co., specializing in commercial litigation and arbitration. She also sits on the board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration.
Her NBA service includes roles as assistant secretary of the NBA Lagos Branch, co-opted member of the National Executive Council, and chair of the 2024 Annual General Conference Planning Committee.
Campaigning under the slogan “A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone,” she has pledged to prioritize lawyers’ welfare, branch development, professional growth, and accountability.
“The Nigerian Bar Association exists to serve its members. Every policy, every program, and every decision must be guided by one question: How does this improve the lives and careers of lawyers?” she said.
Details of voting arrangements and branch participation were not immediately disclosed by the NBA Electoral Committee. The election remains scheduled for July 18.
