Due to the recently declared state of emergency in Rivers State, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has decided to move its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt to Enugu. The NBA expressed initial enthusiasm for Port Harcourt as the host city, noting strong early registration numbers.
However, the association raised serious concerns about the current governance of Rivers State under an appointed Sole Administrator, a retired military office. The NBA alleges that the administrator’s actions demonstrate a disregard for the constitution, court decisions, and legal processes, leading to an undermining of democratic institutions and a governance style akin to military rule.
This situation prompted calls from NBA members for a change of venue, culminating in a consensus by the National Executive Council (NEC). The NEC concluded that holding the AGC in a state deemed unconstitutionally governed was not viable. The NBA’s NEC asserted that the state of emergency violates the constitution, as does the suspension of elected officials, and criticized the National Assembly’s ratification process. Given these “undemocratic developments,” the NBA deemed Port Harcourt an inappropriate venue, as it could be seen as endorsing constitutional violations.
Therefore, based on its legal assessment of the situation and the overwhelming agreement of its leadership and members, the NBA has relocated the 2025 AGC to Enugu, where constitutional democracy is considered intact.
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