The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has moved closer to conducting its 2026 national elections after the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) cleared 35 candidates to contest various leadership positions. The development comes despite legal disputes and internal disagreements that had cast uncertainty over the electoral process. The NBA Elections 2026 are scheduled for July 20 and will determine the association’s leadership for the next two years.
On June 18, the ECNBA released the profiles, manifestoes and approved campaign materials of candidates who successfully met the submission requirements before the June 6 deadline.
The committee’s publication confirmed that 35 legal practitioners were approved to contest positions across the association’s national structure and the General Council of the Bar. The electoral process is being supervised by a five-member committee led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aham Ejelam, with Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa serving as secretary.
The race for the association’s highest office has attracted three Senior Advocates of Nigeria. The presidential contenders are: olumuyiwa Akinboro, oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, lateef Omoyemi Akangbe
The presidency for the NBA Elections 2026 is zoned to the Western region, which comprises Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo and Delta states. Notably, Badejo-Okunsanya is the only female candidate in the presidential race, making her candidacy one of the most closely watched aspects of the election.
According to the ECNBA, two candidates qualified for First Vice President, while one candidate emerged for Third Vice President. The General Secretary position attracted five contenders, while three candidates each were cleared for Assistant General Secretary, Welfare Secretary and Assistant Publicity Secretary.
The offices of Treasurer and Publicity Secretary each have a sole candidate. For the General Council of the Bar, five lawyers will contest in the Eastern Zone, two in the Western Zone and five in the Northern Zone.
The NBA Elections 2026 have unfolded amid legal battles linked to zoning arrangements and the selection of a consensus candidate for the Western Zone. The Incorporated Trustees of Egbe Amofin Oodua had approached the court seeking recognition of Akinboro as the sole presidential candidate from the zone.
Subsequent court orders from the Oyo State High Court temporarily restrained aspects of the electoral process and raised questions about the election timetable. Despite these legal hurdles, the ECNBA continued preparations, engaging candidates and voters while publishing election materials and candidate manifestoes.
A review of campaign documents released by the committee shows that welfare issues feature prominently across many of the candidates’ manifestoes. The ECNBA has repeatedly stated its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible and inclusive election in line with the NBA Constitution.
With more than 140,000 lawyers spread across 128 active branches nationwide, the outcome of the NBA Elections 2026 is expected to influence the direction of legal advocacy, professional development and welfare policies within Africa’s largest bar association.
The election will also serve as a major test of the NBA’s internal democratic processes amid ongoing debates over zoning, representation and leadership succession.
As voting day approaches, attention remains fixed on the presidential contest and the ability of the ECNBA to successfully navigate the legal and political challenges surrounding the process. Barring any last-minute disruptions, NBA members will head to the electronic polls on July 20 to elect leaders who will guide the association through 2028.
