The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced the relocation of its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Enugu, citing the unconstitutional declaration of a state of emergency and the subsequent appointment of a Sole Administrator in Rivers State.
In a statement released on April 10th, the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN, stated that the association “could not, in good conscience, proceed with the AGC in a state governed unconstitutionally by a Sole Administrator.”
The NBA strongly condemned the actions of the Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, who they claimed operated with impunity and disregarded constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigation.
The statement further highlighted the NBA’s stance that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is a violation of the 1999 Constitution, specifically citing the suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions as a breach of Sections 11 and 188 of the Constitution.
The NBA also denounced the National Assembly’s purported ratification of the state of emergency through a voice vote, claiming that the process violates the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority.
“The appointment of a Sole Administrator in Rivers State is unconstitutional,” the NBA president affirmed. “We are compelled to relocate the 2025 AGC to a state where constitutional democracy remains intact.”
The NBA has chosen Enugu, known as the historic Coal City, as the new venue for the 2025 AGC. They expressed confidence that the city has the necessary infrastructure to host the conference.
The NBA’s decision is a strong rebuke to the current administration in Rivers State and underscores the association’s unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
