- Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya led the NBA presidential election after the first results were released
- Voting was delayed following a cyberattack on the NBA’s electronic voting platform
- The Electoral Committee said the election process remained secure despite the disruption
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has taken an early lead in the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election after the first set of results was released.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that figures available by 11:33 a.m. on Saturday showed Badejo-Okusanya polling 4,860 votes, representing 41.77 per cent of the ballots counted.
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Her closest challenger, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe (SAN), secured 3,851 votes, or 33.10 per cent, while Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) received 2,924 votes, accounting for 25.13 per cent.
Although the election had not been concluded at the time of reporting, the 11,600 votes counted placed Badejo-Okusanya in a strong early position.
Voting began later than scheduled after the Nigerian Bar Association’s electronic voting platform experienced a cyberattack.
The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) said the platform was targeted by coordinated external attacks, forcing a delay to the exercise, which was originally expected to commence at midnight.
The committee, however, assured members that the incident did not compromise the integrity of the election, adding that voting resumed once the system was successfully restored.
The election has also been marked by controversy, with allegations that the NBA leadership sought to influence the outcome.
NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) rejected the accusations while addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, insisting that the Electoral Committee operates independently and is not subject to his directives.
He also denied endorsing or supporting any of the presidential candidates, describing the allegations as unfounded and politically motivated.
In the weeks leading up to the election, several candidates and stakeholders raised concerns over the credibility of the process, calling for a postponement of the poll, mandatory National Identification Number verification for voters, and greater transparency.
The association repeatedly maintained that the ECNBA, as an independent body established by the NBA Constitution, has the sole responsibility for organising and conducting the election.
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