By Lanre Adewole
The election of Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, as President-elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has done more than produce the association’s first elected female president.
It has reopened a long-running debate about the declining political influence of the South-West Bar, exposed deep divisions within Egbe Amofin Oodua and raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of the regional consensus model that once dominated NBA politics.
From there, the feature can be developed under logical sections such as:
A historic victory with political undertones
The fall of Egbe Amofin’s influence
Lessons from 2014, 2020 and 2026
Why the consensus model keeps failing
What Badejo-Okusanya’s presidency means for the NBA
Can the South-West Bar rebuild?
This structure makes the article easier to read than the current version, which repeats several arguments.
One point also needs correction. The title “Again, S/West gets an unwanted President” is highly subjective and could alienate readers. A feature can express strong opinions, but the title should still be credible.
Alternatives include:
Badejo-Okusanya’s victory and the South-West Bar’s crisis of influence
The NBA election and the South-West’s leadership dilemma
Beyond the victory: What the NBA poll reveals about the South-West Bar
Overall, the article demonstrates deep institutional knowledge and historical context, but it is about 40–50 per cent longer than necessary.
Removing repeated references to the same events, reducing personal anecdotes and sharpening the analysis would make it far more compelling and persuasive.
As an editor, I would trim it to about 2,000–2,500 words, organise it into clear thematic sections with subheads, and retain only the strongest evidence supporting the central argument.
That would transform it from an extended opinion piece into a polished, publication-ready feature.
