The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced the relocation of its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Enugu, citing constitutional concerns over the emergency rule imposed in Rivers.
In a statement released on Thursday, NBA President Afam Osigwe explained that the decision followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, 2025, and the subsequent appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ekwe Ibas as Sole Administrator.
According to the NBA, the administrator’s actions—including the suspension of elected officials and the unilateral restructuring of state institutions—have seriously undermined democratic governance and violated the rule of law.
“The overwhelming consensus among our members is that we cannot, in good conscience, proceed with the conference in a state currently under unconstitutional rule,” the statement read. “The appointment of a sole administrator directly contravenes Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Sections 11 and 188 which protect democratic institutions and processes.”
The NBA further criticized the National Assembly for ratifying the emergency rule, describing it as a dangerous precedent that erodes constitutional order.
“To hold our flagship event in Port Harcourt under these circumstances would amount to a tacit endorsement of constitutional violations and a betrayal of the principles we stand for,” the statement continued. “The NBA has therefore taken a principled stance in defense of democracy and the rule of law.”
The association confirmed that the 2025 conference will now be hosted in Enugu, popularly known as the Coal City, where constitutional governance remains intact.
Following the imposition of emergency rule, Sole Administrator Ibas has reportedly dismissed all political appointees and installed new officials, including a Secretary to the State Government, 23 local government chairmen, and a chairman for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
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