The President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, has said her successful campaign for the association’s top office was built on competence rather than gender.She also expressed hope that the legal profession would eventually judge leaders solely on their capacity.Speaking during an interview on Sunday on Arise News programme, This Day Live, Badejo-Okusanya dismissed suggestions that gender played a defining role in the election, saying she deliberately presented herself to members as “a capable lawyer” rather than seeking support based on being a woman.“I wouldn’t say that gender was on the front burner of whatever has gone before,” she said.Reflecting on the outcome of the election, she described her victory as decisive, noting that she defeated her closest rival by more than 4,000 votes.“It’s easy for me sitting here now, having won, and won decisively, because I had about 4,000 votes more than my closest competitor. So I would call that a decisive win. And so I’m proud of that,” she said.Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA, as an association whose membership reflects the diversity of society, should reach a point where gender is no longer a consideration in leadership contests.Related NewsWe’ll build NBA where lawyers live better, says new presidentFULL LIST: Winners of 2026 NBA electionsBadejo-Okusanya emerges 33rd NBA president“Even if gender was a factor, where we’re heading to, in an association whose members reflect the diversity of gender, men and women, and some even argue that we have more women than men, we want to get to the point where gender is no longer part of the conversation, where all that we see is capacity,” she said.She stressed that competence remained the central message of her campaign.“I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. She also expressed hope that the legal profession would eventually judge leaders solely on their capacity.Speaking during an interview on Sunday on Arise News programme, This Day Live, Badejo-Okusanya dismissed suggestions that gender played a defining role in the election, saying she deliberately presented herself to members as “a capable lawyer” rather than seeking support based on being a woman.“I wouldn’t say that gender was on the front burner of whatever has gone before,” she said.Reflecting on the outcome of the election, she described her victory as decisive, noting that she defeated her closest rival by more than 4,000 votes.“It’s easy for me sitting here now, having won, and won decisively, because I had about 4,000 votes more than my closest competitor. So I would call that a decisive win. And so I’m proud of that,” she said.Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA, as an association whose membership reflects the diversity of society, should reach a point where gender is no longer a consideration in leadership contests.Related NewsWe’ll build NBA where lawyers live better, says new presidentFULL LIST: Winners of 2026 NBA electionsBadejo-Okusanya emerges 33rd NBA president“Even if gender was a factor, where we’re heading to, in an association whose members reflect the diversity of gender, men and women, and some even argue that we have more women than men, we want to get to the point where gender is no longer part of the conversation, where all that we see is capacity,” she said.She stressed that competence remained the central message of her campaign.“I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. Speaking during an interview on Sunday on Arise News programme, This Day Live, Badejo-Okusanya dismissed suggestions that gender played a defining role in the election, saying she deliberately presented herself to members as “a capable lawyer” rather than seeking support based on being a woman.“I wouldn’t say that gender was on the front burner of whatever has gone before,” she said.Reflecting on the outcome of the election, she described her victory as decisive, noting that she defeated her closest rival by more than 4,000 votes.“It’s easy for me sitting here now, having won, and won decisively, because I had about 4,000 votes more than my closest competitor. So I would call that a decisive win. And so I’m proud of that,” she said.Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA, as an association whose membership reflects the diversity of society, should reach a point where gender is no longer a consideration in leadership contests.Related NewsWe’ll build NBA where lawyers live better, says new presidentFULL LIST: Winners of 2026 NBA electionsBadejo-Okusanya emerges 33rd NBA president“Even if gender was a factor, where we’re heading to, in an association whose members reflect the diversity of gender, men and women, and some even argue that we have more women than men, we want to get to the point where gender is no longer part of the conversation, where all that we see is capacity,” she said.She stressed that competence remained the central message of her campaign.“I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. “I wouldn’t say that gender was on the front burner of whatever has gone before,” she said.Reflecting on the outcome of the election, she described her victory as decisive, noting that she defeated her closest rival by more than 4,000 votes.“It’s easy for me sitting here now, having won, and won decisively, because I had about 4,000 votes more than my closest competitor. So I would call that a decisive win. And so I’m proud of that,” she said.Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA, as an association whose membership reflects the diversity of society, should reach a point where gender is no longer a consideration in leadership contests.Related NewsWe’ll build NBA where lawyers live better, says new presidentFULL LIST: Winners of 2026 NBA electionsBadejo-Okusanya emerges 33rd NBA president“Even if gender was a factor, where we’re heading to, in an association whose members reflect the diversity of gender, men and women, and some even argue that we have more women than men, we want to get to the point where gender is no longer part of the conversation, where all that we see is capacity,” she said.She stressed that competence remained the central message of her campaign.“I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. Reflecting on the outcome of the election, she described her victory as decisive, noting that she defeated her closest rival by more than 4,000 votes.“It’s easy for me sitting here now, having won, and won decisively, because I had about 4,000 votes more than my closest competitor. So I would call that a decisive win. And so I’m proud of that,” she said.Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA, as an association whose membership reflects the diversity of society, should reach a point where gender is no longer a consideration in leadership contests.Related NewsWe’ll build NBA where lawyers live better, says new presidentFULL LIST: Winners of 2026 NBA electionsBadejo-Okusanya emerges 33rd NBA president“Even if gender was a factor, where we’re heading to, in an association whose members reflect the diversity of gender, men and women, and some even argue that we have more women than men, we want to get to the point where gender is no longer part of the conversation, where all that we see is capacity,” she said.She stressed that competence remained the central message of her campaign.“I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. “It’s easy for me sitting here now, having won, and won decisively, because I had about 4,000 votes more than my closest competitor. So I would call that a decisive win. And so I’m proud of that,” she said.Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA, as an association whose membership reflects the diversity of society, should reach a point where gender is no longer a consideration in leadership contests.Related NewsWe’ll build NBA where lawyers live better, says new presidentFULL LIST: Winners of 2026 NBA electionsBadejo-Okusanya emerges 33rd NBA president“Even if gender was a factor, where we’re heading to, in an association whose members reflect the diversity of gender, men and women, and some even argue that we have more women than men, we want to get to the point where gender is no longer part of the conversation, where all that we see is capacity,” she said.She stressed that competence remained the central message of her campaign.“I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA, as an association whose membership reflects the diversity of society, should reach a point where gender is no longer a consideration in leadership contests.Related NewsWe’ll build NBA where lawyers live better, says new presidentFULL LIST: Winners of 2026 NBA electionsBadejo-Okusanya emerges 33rd NBA president“Even if gender was a factor, where we’re heading to, in an association whose members reflect the diversity of gender, men and women, and some even argue that we have more women than men, we want to get to the point where gender is no longer part of the conversation, where all that we see is capacity,” she said.She stressed that competence remained the central message of her campaign.“I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. “Even if gender was a factor, where we’re heading to, in an association whose members reflect the diversity of gender, men and women, and some even argue that we have more women than men, we want to get to the point where gender is no longer part of the conversation, where all that we see is capacity,” she said.She stressed that competence remained the central message of her campaign.“I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. She stressed that competence remained the central message of her campaign.“I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. “I deliberately ran my campaign on that score, not on gender, but on capacity. I wanted people to see a capable woman, not ashamed of being a woman, very proud of being a woman, but I wanted people to see a capable lawyer, first of all. And that’s where I’d like us to go,” she added.Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. Looking ahead, the president-elect said her priority would be to unite the association after the election and foster reconciliation among members.“To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. “To be honest with you, it’s easy for me now to forget all the intrigues and the issues that led up to the elections. We’re here now, and it’s now time to build, rebuild the association, to start the process of reconciliation and reaching out and working together, because teamwork makes the dream work. So we need to come together,” she said.She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. She pledged to serve all members of the association regardless of their political alignment during the election.“I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said. “I will be president to all members, both my most ardent supporters and my most strident critics. I’ll be president to them all. And I hope to have the graciousness to be just that, and move the association forward. We need to move the needle. And that’s what I intend to do,” Badejo-Okusanya said.