The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced a change of venue for its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC), moving it from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Enugu. This decision comes in response to the recently declared state of emergency in Rivers State. The NBA highlighted the initial enthusiasm for hosting the conference in Port Harcourt, evidenced by high registration numbers prior to the emergency declaration.
However, the association expressed deep concern over the governance of Rivers State under a recently appointed Sole Administrator, a retired military officer. The NBA alleges that the Sole Administrator operates with a command-style approach, disregarding constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigation. This, according to the NBA, has undermined democratic institutions and processes within the state, with the administrator governing in a manner akin to military rule despite being in civilian attire.
This situation prompted growing calls from NBA members for a change of venue. Following a meeting with the Chairmen of NBA branches in Rivers State and an emergency session of the National Executive Council (NEC) on March 27, 2025, an overwhelming consensus was reached. The NEC determined that the NBA could not, in good conscience, hold its flagship conference in a state governed unconstitutionally by a Sole Administrator.
The NEC further stated that the declared state of emergency in Rivers State violates Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. It also asserted that the suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions contravenes Sections 11 and 188 of the Constitution, and the purported ratification by the National Assembly via voice vote was a grave constitutional subversion. The NBA emphasized that even proper procedure would not legitimize an unconstitutional proclamation.
Given these “undemocratic developments,” the NBA concluded that Port Harcourt is no longer a justifiable venue for the 2025 AGC. Holding the event there would be seen as a tacit endorsement of constitutional violations and a subversion of the rule of law. Consequently, based on its principled stance that the appointment of a Sole Administrator in Rivers State is unconstitutional and in alignment with the overwhelming position of the NEC and its members, the NBA has decided to relocate the 2025 AGC to Enugu, a state where constitutional democracy remains intact.
