Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has withdrawn its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, citing the imposition of emergency rule and the appointment of a Sole Administrator in place of democratically elected officials.
The association announced late Thursday that the conference, which had been slated to take place in the Rivers State capital, would now hold in Enugu. The decision followed growing unease within the legal community over what the NBA described as an unconstitutional takeover of governance in Rivers.
The change was disclosed in a joint statement signed by NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN), General Secretary Mobolaji Ojibara, and Chairman of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee (AGCPC), Emeka Obegolu (SAN).
According to the association, the March 18 declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State fundamentally altered the political and legal environment of the state, rendering it an unsuitable venue for the bar’s flagship event.
“Despite a wave of excitement and record registration numbers ahead of the conference, the recent developments in Rivers have undermined confidence and stalled our preparations,” the statement said.
The NBA strongly criticized the appointment of a retired military officer as Sole Administrator of the state, accusing him of governing with a command-style approach that disregards court rulings, constitutional processes, and democratic norms.
“Though dressed in civilian clothing, his methods mirror military dictatorship,” the NBA stated. “This poses a clear threat to democratic governance, rule of law, and institutional integrity.”
The statement added that rising concern among members prompted widespread calls for a venue change, culminating in an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) on March 27. During that session, the NEC overwhelmingly resolved that it would be inappropriate to host the AGC in a state operating outside constitutional frameworks.
The NBA also denounced the state of emergency as a violation of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution and criticized the National Assembly’s voice vote ratification as a “grave constitutional subversion.”
“Even if constitutional procedures had been followed, such a proclamation remains fundamentally illegitimate,” the statement asserted.
Asserting that retaining Port Harcourt as host city would amount to endorsing undemocratic governance, the NBA concluded: “In light of these constitutional breaches, we are left with no alternative but to move the 2025 AGC to Enugu—a location where the principles of constitutional democracy are respected and upheld.”
By Enoch Odesola | April 11, 2025
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