• ‘WE’LL ANNOUNCE RESULTS BY 10 AM TODAY,’ ECNBA CHAIR TELLS CITY LAWYER

Senior lawyer Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya is set to be declared winner of the hotly contested Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential election.

The Chairman of the the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), Mr. Aham Ejelam told CITY LAWYER that the results would be announced by 10 am today. Of the 82,172 registered voters, 26,184 voted during the elections, showing a turnout of 31.86%.

Available results on the ECNBA dashboard shows that Badejo-Okusanya polled 12,317 (47.18%) to defeat her two rivals, Mr. Yemi Akangbe SAN and Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinboro SAN.

While Akangbe polled 7,934 votes (30.39%) to emerge runner-up, Akinboro garnered 5,855 votes (22.43%) to bring up the rear.

Akangbe had in a letter to the electoral committee demanded that the elections should be suspended, even as Akinboro stated that “The events surrounding this election have reinforced the urgent need for meaningful electoral reform. My reflections are offered in the hope that this moment will inspire the changes necessary to restore confidence in our democratic processes.”

Others who are likely to be declared winners are Chief Oghenero Okoro who polled 11,024 votes to emerge as First Vice President. He defeated Luqman Adekunle Laoye (7,044 votes) and former NBA Lagos Branch Secretary, Onimisi Obajaja (6,511 votes).

Mr. Egya Nuhu John polled 18,496 votes to emerge unopposed as Second Vice President while Iniobong Irene Pepple also emerged unopposed as Third Vice President with 19,200 votes.

Former NBA Abuja Branch Chairman Afam Okeke beat a strong field of six candidates to emerge as the new NBA General Secretary. He polled 8,478 votes (33.58%) to emerge victorious. Dr. Rapulu Ernest Nduka garnered 6,188 votes (24.51%) to emerge runner-up.

The position of Assistant General Secretary went to Aghogho Gladys Okpomor who polled 14,312 votes (56.76%) to beat her closest challenger and runner-up, Osato Uwagboe (5,003 votes or 19.84%).

Esther Ifeoma Jimoh emerged unopposed as Treasuer with 21,908 votes while the position of Welfare Secretary went to Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam who polled 14,911 votes (60.43%).

The position of Publicity Secretary was won by Dr. Prince Azubuike who garnered 14,686 votes (61.95%) to beat his challenger, Lawrence Shegun Ayewa who polled 9,021 votes (38.05%).

The position of Assistant Publicity Secretary was won by Hadiza Nasir Ahmad who polled 10,094 votes to beat her closest challenger, Uwomano Aki (6,108 votes).

Several candidates were also elected as NBA Representatives to the General Council of the Bar (GCB).

The elections suffered a late start as the ECNBA stated that the voting portal was subjected to coordinated cyber attacks.

CITY LAWYER recalls that the run-up to the elections witnessed heated disagreements between sundry stakeholders, even as the Managing Director of one of the service providers suspected to be Thalenic was arrested by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives barely 48 hours to the elections.

CITY LAWYER had in a Special Report x-rayed the dynamics surrounding the elections.

• This is a developing story

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