Badejo-Okusanya leads in Nigerian Bar Association presidential election as voting closes
via Punch Nigeria9 min read
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is poised to become president of the Nigerian Bar Association after securing a significant lead in the association鈥檚 presidential election. Results from the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association's live dashboard show Badejo-Okusanya with 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 percent of the total votes cast. Her closest competitors, Lateef Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, received 7,934 votes 30.39 percent and 5,855 votes 22.43 percent respectively. Out of 82,172 registered voters, 26,106 votes were cast, indicating a 31.86 percent voter turnout. Voting, which began on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 7:35 a.m., concluded on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 7:35 a.m. The ECNBA has not yet made an official declaration of the winner. If confirmed, Badejo-Okusanya would be the second woman to lead the NBA since its inception, following Priscilla Olabori Kuye who served from 1991 to 1992. The election faced controversies, including litigation, calls for postponement, and disagreements over a consensus candidate. Technical glitches were reported with the electronic voting portal, leading to a protest from Akangbe, who alleged irregularities such as the portal's collapse, incorrect delivery of one-time passwords, and a visually defective presidential ballot.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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Oladipupo Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ogun State, has accused governors across Nigeria of diverting local government allocations. Speaking at the Ake Palace in Abeokuta during a meeting with the Egba Traditional Council, Adebutu pledged to grant full financial autonomy to councils if elected in 2027. He stated that ensuring financial independence for local governments would be a defining policy of his administration, emphasizing that local governments should receive their own funds directly. Adebutu, who was accompanied by his running mate, Lateefat Sowunmi-Kolapo, and the PDP candidate for Ogun Central Senatorial District, Iyabo Obasanjo, alleged that governors, regardless of political affiliation, are misappropriating these funds. He argued that direct access to statutory allocations would enable local governments to deliver better development. Adebutu also promised to construct roads to strengthen connectivity between Ogun State and Lagos, moving away from dependence on borrowing for infrastructure. Ogun State PDP Chairman, Abayomi Tella, lamented the collapse of the local government system due to lack of financial autonomy and expressed confidence in Adebutu's commitment. The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, described Adebutu as a trustworthy leader.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, has congratulated Omoniyi Ibietan on his re-election as Secretary-General of the African Public Relations Association APRA. The Minister stated that Ibietan's re-election is a recognition of his professionalism, dedication, and contributions to the public relations profession across Africa. Ibietan was re-elected during the APRA General Assembly in Swakopmund, Namibia, where Arik Karani of Kenya became President and Professor Michele Mekeme of Cameroon was elected Vice-President. Idris, in a statement by his Special Assistant Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, noted that the election outcome reflects the confidence public relations professionals across Africa have in Ibietan's leadership and capacity to advance the association's vision. The Minister expressed optimism that Ibietan will continue to provide purposeful leadership and support APRA's efforts to promote ethical communication and Africa's digital transformation agenda. He also commended APRA for its commitment to strengthening the public relations profession and promoting ethical communication across Africa, adding that Nigeria looks forward to hosting the 37th APRA Annual Conference alongside the World Public Relations Forum in Abuja later this year. Founded in 1975, APRA is the umbrella body for public relations practitioners across Africa, promoting professional excellence, ethical communication, and collaboration among communication professionals.