Okutepa rejects NBA election, claims process was manipulated to produce predetermined outcome

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, has intensified the controversy surrounding the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election, alleging that the electoral process was manipulated, lacked transparency and abandoned the principles of due process expected of the country’s foremost legal body.

Okutepa’s criticism followed the emergence of Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) as the 33rd President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association, a victory that has continued to divide opinions within the legal community amid allegations of technical failures, voting irregularities and voter disenfranchisement.

In a strongly worded statement posted on his X account, the senior advocate declared that he had lost confidence in the NBA, arguing that the association no longer reflects the ideals of credibility, honesty, objectivity and integrity that define the legal profession.

According to him, politics within the association has eroded confidence in its internal democratic processes.

“I have lost faith in the Nigerian Bar Association as a professional association of lawyers. Credibility, objectivity, honesty and integrity have all departed from the NBA, its affairs and its politics,” Okutepa wrote.

The respected constitutional lawyer further accused many members of the Bar of remaining silent over alleged irregularities in the election despite frequently criticising government institutions for violating due process.

He argued that several lawyers who had publicly condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over technical glitches and procedural lapses during previous general elections appeared willing to excuse similar challenges during the NBA presidential poll.

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According to Okutepa, the credibility of any election is determined not merely by the declaration of results but by the fairness, transparency and integrity of every stage of the electoral process.

He also questioned the composition and independence of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), alleging that the committee was neither sufficiently independent nor impartial to conduct a credible election.

Okutepa claimed the electoral committee abandoned agreed procedures and instead adopted processes that allegedly favoured a predetermined outcome.

He further alleged that more lawyers were disenfranchised than those whose votes were eventually counted, describing the exercise as a “coronation” rather than a genuinely competitive democratic election.

“The processes agreed to be used were jettisoned for processes to produce who the cabals want. The legal profession is going to be the worse for this,” he stated.

He also alleged that every stage of the election was carefully managed to produce a preferred winner, warning that such developments could weaken confidence in the NBA’s commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law.

The controversy has continued to grow as more members of the legal profession raise concerns over the conduct of the electronic voting exercise. Before the official declaration of results, another senior lawyer, A.K. Musa, alleged widespread irregularities, claiming that many lawyers experienced identity verification failures, delayed one-time passwords (OTPs), malfunctioning voting portals and unexplained increases in vote tallies. Several lawyers also took to social media to report difficulties accessing the electronic voting platform, prompting calls for greater transparency and an independent review of the election process.

Earlier, the ECNBA acknowledged that its electronic voting platform came under a cyberattack shortly after voting commenced. The committee said the incident temporarily disrupted the exercise but insisted that the system was restored and adequate safeguards were implemented to protect the integrity of the election. Despite the controversy, the electoral committee maintained that the final outcome reflected the valid votes cast.

According to the official results announced by the ECNBA, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the valid votes cast to emerge as president-elect. Her closest challenger, Lateef Akangbe (SAN), polled 7,934 votes (30.39 per cent), while Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) garnered 5,855 votes (22.43 per cent) from a total of 26,106 valid votes.

Her victory is widely regarded as historic, as she becomes the first woman elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association since the association’s establishment more than six decades ago.

In her acceptance speech, Badejo-Okusanya thanked members of the Bar for their confidence in her leadership and pledged to serve with integrity, courage, fairness, humility and accountability. She also promised to build a more inclusive, united and progressive Bar while protecting the independence of the legal profession and advancing reforms aimed at strengthening the association.

The controversy surrounding the election has reignited calls for comprehensive reforms to the NBA’s electronic voting system. Several lawyers have advocated an independent audit of the election process, stronger cybersecurity measures and greater transparency in future polls to restore confidence in the association’s internal democracy.

While the ECNBA has defended the credibility of the election, criticism from prominent legal practitioners such as Okutepa suggests that debates over the conduct of the poll are likely to continue in the coming weeks.

Okutepa rejects NBA election, claims process was manipulated to produce predetermined outcome