Results from the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) real-time dashboard as of 11 p.m. on Saturday showed Badejo-Okusanya polling 11,352 votes, representing 46.69 per cent of the 24,314 ballots cast in the presidential race.
Her closest challenger, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe (SAN), secured 7,415 votes (30.50 per cent), while Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) polled 5,547 votes (22.81 per cent).
If the lead is maintained, Badejo-Okusanya will become the first woman to be elected president of the NBA. Dame Priscilla Olabori Kuye was the association’s first female president after assuming office from the position of First Vice President when the then president, Chief Clement Akpamgbo, was appointed Attorney-General of the Federation by the military government.
The election resumed at 7:35 a.m. on Saturday after the ECNBA migrated voting to a new secure domain following technical disruptions that affected the original portal earlier in the day.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Aham Ejelam (SAN), and Secretary, Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, the committee said the platform had come under a “deliberate, coordinated and sustained cyberattack” aimed at disrupting the election.
According to the ECNBA, its cybersecurity team and Election Voting Service Provider activated emergency protocols to contain the attack and restore the system.
The committee said no votes were recorded during the disruption and that voting only commenced after the platform had been fully secured.
It added that the election remained under its supervision throughout the process, with candidates, agents and observers monitoring proceedings from the designated election centre.
The ECNBA announced that voting, which resumed at 7:35 a.m., would remain open for 24 hours and close at 7:35 a.m. on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in the race for the office of General Secretary, early results showed Afam Okeke leading the field with 4,054 votes.
His closest challenger, Rapulu Ernest Nduka, polled 3,452 votes, while Chidi Ezenwafor followed with 2,553 votes. Okey Leo Ohagba had 2,317 votes, while Nnaebuka Onyebuchi Nwaeze and Barth Okoye-Aniche trailed with 544 and 396 votes respectively.
Final results are expected after the close of voting and completion of the collation process.
The election followed weeks of controversy over the integrity of the electronic voting process, with some stakeholders calling for its postponement, demanding mandatory National Identification Number (NIN) verification for voters and alleging attempts to influence the outcome.
NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) dismissed the allegations, insisting that the ECNBA operates independently and that he has no role in the conduct of the election or the choice of its eventual winner.