Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, who polled 30 percent of the votes in this weekend's Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) election has rejected the result of the vote.
The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) announced the results on Sunday, confirming Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, or 47.18% of ballots cast.
She defeated Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, who polled 7,934 votes (30.39%), and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, who received 5,855 votes (22.43%).
ECNBA Chairman Aham Ejelam, SAN, declared the results at the NBA National Secretariat in Abuja.
But Akangbe rejected the outcome, alleging that widespread technical failures and changes to the voting process disenfranchised thousands of lawyers.
In a five-page statement issued Sunday, the senior advocate said the election lacked credibility and argued that many eligible voters were unable to cast their ballots because of problems with the electronic voting platform.
"Some of you succeeded in voting. The vast majority of you did not," Akangbe said. "You were disenfranchised not by choice but by infrastructure. Not by apathy but by failure."
Akangbe also accused the ECNBA of moving the election date from July 20 to July 18 without the approval of the National Executive Council and introducing a new SMS-based authentication system less than 48 hours before voting began.
He claimed the voting platform collapsed within the first hour and questioned the committee's explanation that the disruption resulted from a cyberattack.
The defeated candidate further alleged that he was unable to vote despite receiving multiple access links from senior NBA officials.
"I, a presidential candidate in this election, was completely disenfranchised. I could not vote," he said.
"The Chairman of the ECNBA and the NBA President personally sent me over five separate links to access the voting portal. Not one of them worked."
Akangbe also questioned the election's turnout, alleging that reports of multiple voting by some individuals undermined the integrity of the process.
He said he was reviewing his legal options and would announce his next steps after consulting his team.
The ECNBA has not publicly responded to Akangbe's allegations.
Other Elected Officials
With the victory upheld, Badejo-Okusanya will serve a two-year term from 2026 to 2028, becoming only the second woman to lead the NBA after Priscilla Kuye, who served as president from 1991 to 1992.
The electoral committee said 26,184 of the association's 82,172 registered members voted in the election, representing a turnout of 31.86%.
Among other winners, Chief Oghenero Okoro emerged first vice president, while Egya Nuhu John and Pepple Iniobong Irene were elected second and third vice presidents, respectively, after running unopposed.
Afam O. Okeke won the office of general secretary, while Aghogho Gladys Okpomor, Esther Ifeoma Jimoh, Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam, Dr. Prince I. Azubuike and Hadiza Nasir Ahmad were elected to other national offices.
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