The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has officially announced the relocation of its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Enugu State. This decision follows the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the subsequent appointment of a sole administrator by President Bola Tinubu.

The initial announcement of Port Harcourt as the host city for the 2025 AGC was met with considerable enthusiasm. Registration numbers had surged, reflecting the eagerness of NBA members to convene in the ‘Garden City.’ However, the political climate in Rivers State took a drastic turn following President Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule on March 18, 2025. This declaration included the suspension of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the House of Assembly, further complicating the situation.

In response to these developments, the NBA convened meetings with the Chairmen of NBA branches in Rivers State and held an emergency session of the National Executive Council (NEC) on March 27, 2025. The consensus was clear: the NBA could not, in good conscience, proceed with the AGC in a state governed unconstitutionally by a Sole Administrator.

The NBA's official statement, jointly signed by NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN), General Secretary Mobolaji Ojibara, and AGCPC Chairman Emeka Obegolu (SAN), emphasized that Rivers State is currently being governed by a retired military officer appointed as a Sole Administrator. This individual, according to the NBA, operates with a command-style approach that disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigation. The NBA asserts that these actions have undermined democratic institutions and processes, effectively flouting the rule of law with impunity.

The NEC reaffirmed that the state of emergency declared in Rivers State violates Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. Furthermore, the suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions contravenes Sections 11 and 188 of the Constitution. The NBA also criticized the National Assembly’s purported ratification of the emergency rule, stating that it was executed via voice vote rather than the constitutionally required two-thirds majority, amounting to a grave constitutional subversion.

Given these “undemocratic developments,” the NBA concluded that holding its flagship event in Port Harcourt would amount to a tacit endorsement of constitutional violations and subversion of the rule of law. Consequently, the decision was made to relocate the 2025 AGC to Enugu, a city the NBA believes possesses the infrastructure and capacity to host a conference of such scale and significance.

The NBA’s statement underscored its principled position that the appointment of a Sole Administrator in Rivers State is unconstitutional. The relocation of the AGC to Enugu is aligned with the overwhelming position of the NEC and the broader membership, reinforcing the NBA’s commitment to upholding constitutional democracy.

Enugu, known as the “Coal City,” is now preparing to host the 2025 Annual General Conference. The NBA has called on all members and stakeholders to lend their full support as the association embarks on this new path, expressing confidence that this transition will be a resounding success.