CLEARING THE INTRIGUES OF CANDIDACY IN THE SOUTHWESTERN REGION OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION
I express profound gratitude to the leadership of Egbe Amofin O’odua and the entire Nigerian legal community, particularly our revered elder, Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, for his prompt guidance, steady wisdom and unwavering commitment to the unity of the South-West Bar. His counsel has been instrumental in charting this collective path.
The recent development at the Southwest (western) region of the NBA needs clarifications to enable our colleagues from the other regions to come to terms with the dynamics at play in the region. Hence, I allude as follows.
1. The provisions of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Constitution 2015 as amended in 2021) provides in the Second Schedule, Part IV, Paragraphs (1)– (3)
The Association shall, for the purpose of election of National Officers, be divided into three geographical zones, namely Northern Zone, Eastern Zone, and Western Zone.
1. The positions of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Third Vice President, and General Secretary shall rotate among the three zones. In determining eligibility, regard shall be had to a candidate’s geographical zone of origin and not the zone where he/she practices.
2. The geographical zone that produces the President shall also produce the First Vice President.
3. Where a position is zoned to any particular geographical zone, the position shall be rotated and held in turn by the different groups and/or sections in that zone.
Since 2019, the South West has been divided to three (3) groups, identifying how each group has occupied the Presidency of the NBA, which is as follows:
Zone 1 (Ondo/Ekiti)
- Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN (2002–2004)
- Prince Lanke Odogiyan (2005–2006)
- Late Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN (2008–2010)
Zone 2 (Oyo/Osun)
- Chief Richard Akinjide, CON, SAN (1970–1973). He remains the only NBA President produced by the zone till date.
Zone 3 (Lagos/Ogun)
- Jibril Martin (1952-1959)
- Chief F. R. A. Williams, SAN (1960–1968)
- Peter Thomas (1968 -1969)
- Chief Adebayo Ogunsanya, SAN (1973–1974)
- Chief Adetunji Fadairo, SAN (1980–1982)
- Prince Bola Ajibola, CON, SAN (1984–1985)
- Alao Aka-Bashorun (1987–1989)
- Chief Mrs. Priscilla Kuye (1992)
It is in the light of the above circumstance that, it was agreed by the South West that
Osun State should produce the next President of the Bar from the South West in line
with our mandatory constitutional provisions. The two candidates from Osun State, Aare Muyiwa Akinboro SAN and Prof Foluke Dada-Lawanson reached a consensus and in alignment with the extant provisions of the NBA constitution.
In this pivotal moment for our Association, I wish to formally affirm my alignment with the collective decision of the Egbe Amofin our ideological home and professional coalition. The Yoruba legal tradition has always risen to meet the exigent needs of the Bar, and this moment calls for unity, clarity and purpose. It is in this spirit that I fully support the emergence of Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, as the sole candidate of the South-West for the office of President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
- Our region has suffered immensely must present a united front if we are to “bring it home” and secure meaningful representation at the national level. A cohesive coalition is not merely strategic; it is indispensable for the future we seek to build a future where the South-West speaks with one voice grounded in principle, competence and collective resolve.
- My attention has been drawn to a blog released today, the 11th of December, 2025, which emanated from the “Bold” team signed by Mrs. Amaka Ezeno, Mrs Gloria Etim, Ms. Aisha Ado Abdullahi, Dr. Adesola Falaiye and Princess Demilade Douglas. In the said blog, I read with dismay, the statement pasted below:
False claim 1 –“Last weekend at the Egbe Amofin Oodua Women’s Summit in Ibadan, history was made! Prof. Foluke Dada publicly stepped down as a presidential aspirant for the NBA National Election 2026 leaving only one female aspirant in the race. This is a bold, sacrificial move that puts the future of women’s leadership in the NBA firmly in the spotlight.”
Rebuttal & Commentary
Let me state clearly that the above statement is both incredulous, misleading, discourteous and fraudulent! Mrs. B arrived late to the meeting but was robustly briefed of all that transpired in her absence to which she had no comment!
At the meeting, I, Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson informed the meeting of my decision to form a coalition strategy wherein we present Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro SAN, as candidate for the office of the President and I run as the Vice-Presidential Candidate in the next NBA elections. (Please watch the attached videos).
There was not a mention of female Presidency or even any conversation on such ideal. My statement was public and recorded. I am convinced that Mrs. B would not risk her integrity to state otherwise or make a false claim as to any narrative other than those she bore witness to as contained in my statement herein.
The “thank you” narrative is a mere desperate move by some individuals to play politics with the women-folk and win cheap gains where they have not sown. It is my belief though that the women, whose names have been mentioned will dissociate themselves from the false narrative as women lawyers in Nigeria are far more mature than this.
Female lawyers must not make a mockery of our gender by believing that we must return a woman at all cost. I am a woman of virtue and integrity and I will align with such cause as will promote female lawyers and ensure that our integrity and enhanced status in politics and the economy is assured.
We must not become desperate in the search for leadership at all cost! It is important we elect a capable woman of character and integrity when and where we are presented with such personalities. In this case, I have decided to align with the Egbe Amofin O’odua’s vehement call for unity and the important need to present a common front. The Southwest cannot afford another crisis or division. We must also defer to the extant provisions of the NBA Constitution cited below. Anyone from the “Bold” team that does not share this belief or chooses to downgrade ethics in our legal profession needs to be called to order immediately.
It is in this instance, that I ask Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya SAN to distinguish herself and call to order, all her supporters who are over-zealous and may discredit womanhood and seek for mediocrity and false narratives to desist immediately, as it is uncouth to run a politics of fear and cowardice, and importantly, bans on the NBA elections are not yet lifted. As we consult, let us exercise some decorum and allow every lawyer the opportunity to participate in any credible capacity they choose.
False claim 2 – Prof. Dada has once again actively championed female leadership within the NBA and reminded us all that if we want gender parity, we must practise it.
Female leadership is ripe in politics but we cannot practice “Kangaroo” politics. We must learn as women and play politics aright! I dream of a time in NBA when we become mature politically to achieve the dream of a female presidency by merit and not through “cabalism” or treacherous means! Let fair be fair!
False claim 3 – By stepping aside, Prof. Foluke Dada has opened the door for a unified, powerful force behind the only woman left in the presidential race – the formidable Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN. A leader whose moment has truly arrived.
Rebuttal & Commentary
In my statement, I stated unequivocally that as we consult, I support the candidacy of Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN for the Presidency of the Bar AND that I, Prof. Foluke Dada-Lawanson present my self for the Vice-Presidency of the Bar at the next NBA elections in July 2026. My reasons are not far-fetched. They are entrenched in compliance with the rotational presidency as mandated by the NBA Constitution and by virtue of that rotation, Osun State is next in line and by equity, myself and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN are from Osun as top aspirants in the race.
In furtherance of our shared vision, and after wide consultations across our structures, I humbly offer myself to serve as the First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association . I do so with a deep sense of duty, guided by the values that have shaped my career and informed by the counsel of our elders.
False Claim #4 – Dear Prof. Dada, we thank you for your bold and selfless step…..et al!
Rebuttal & Commentary
This is a spoof! There is nothing “bold” in false narratives and cowardice! It would have been better to state the facts and discuss issues to seek for other ideas that may flourish. I appeal to all female lawyers to dissociate themselves from all the false narratives and understand that this is a desperate move by some people to cause further confusion in our camp.
I have diligently served the NBA as a national body and the NBAWF for many years and brought the forum back from being moribund for years with the active support of Mrs. Mfon Usoro and the then President Paul Usoro, SAN during the time that I was the 2nd Vice President of the Bar. Over the years, I have served as a Council member of the NBAWF, Head of the ever vibrant Advocacy Committeee, moved the NBAWF to the international platform and secured the all-important MoU with the Women Section of the New York State Bar, worked as committee head of the Women Forum in developing the format for membership and functioning of the forum across the country, served as member of the NBAWF Sexual Harrassment Policy development for the NBA, developed programs through the Advocacy Committee and served in various committees of the Bar. I currently chair the Academic Forum of the Bar and served in the past as Vice-Chair and Chair of the NBA Ado-Ekiti Branch. In doing these and more, my commitment to the Bar has been stellar, I am committed to the Bar and groomed to serve you at all times. I urge every member of the Bar to see this unfortunate development as desperation to ascend a position by hook or crook. This is rather sad!
To my supporters across Nigeria and in the diaspora, thank you for your consistent goodwill and steadfast belief in our shared ideals. I now urge you to come fully on board with this new development as I consult for the office of the Vice President of the Bar. Let us move together in one accord, strengthen the coalition, and work tirelessly until victory in all ramifications is achieved.
Together, we will build a Bar that reflects integrity, purpose and the best of the legal tradition we proudly represent.
Thank you.
Professor Foluke Dada-Lawanson, SJD, FICMC. FMC, FFIS, MNIM, MCArb, ABR, CMgt.