NBA Relocates 2025 Annual General Conference to Enugu Over Constitutional Crisis in Rivers State
In a move reverberating across Nigeria’s legal and political landscape, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced the relocation of its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Enugu, the capital of Enugu State. The decision, announced via a joint statement by the NBA leadership, comes amid what the association has strongly condemned as an unconstitutional governance structure and a flagrant subversion of democratic norms in Rivers State.
For a body known for its measured interventions and adherence to due process, this bold decision signals more than a change in venue—it marks a definitive statement from Nigeria’s legal profession: the rule of law must not be negotiated.
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Rivers State, a traditionally vibrant and politically active region in the Niger Delta, has recently been thrust into chaos. On March 18, 2025, a controversial declaration of a state of emergency by the federal government threw the state into constitutional limbo. The federal authorities, citing rising insecurity and alleged breakdown of law and order, removed the elected governor and replaced the entire democratic structure with a Sole Administrator—a retired military officer handpicked by the Presidency.
While the government claimed it was acting to restore peace, legal scholars and civil rights groups swiftly raised red flags. The appointment of a Sole Administrator, bypassing both the judiciary and legislature, was widely criticized as unconstitutional and reminiscent of Nigeria’s military dictatorship era.
The National Assembly’s swift ratification of the emergency via a voice vote, instead of a constitutionally required two-thirds majority, further inflamed the situation.
The NBA, a body representing over 170,000 legal practitioners across Nigeria, initially adopted a cautious stance. However, as concerns from members and stakeholders mounted, the leadership convened a series of urgent consultations. An emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) was held on March 27, 2025, where the growing consensus was unmistakable: the NBA could not, in good conscience, proceed with the conference in a state governed by what they described as “an unconstitutional and autocratic regime.”
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According to the NBA’s official statement signed by President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, General Secretary Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara, and AGC Planning Committee Chairman Emeka Obegolu, SAN:
“Though clad in civilian attire, the Sole Administrator governs as though the state is under military rule. His actions have undermined democratic institutions and flouted the rule of law with impunity.”
The association noted that holding the AGC in Port Harcourt under such conditions would be a tacit endorsement of illegal governance, an act incompatible with the NBA’s core mission.
The NBA branches in Rivers State—comprising Port Harcourt, Ahoada, Bori, and others—played a pivotal role in influencing the national body’s decision. In a memorandum sent to the NEC, the branch leaders expressed concern for the safety of delegates, the legitimacy of the state’s authorities, and the implications of proceeding with the AGC in such a politically charged climate.
A member of the Port Harcourt Branch Executive Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said:
“We are lawyers before we are residents. If we claim to stand for the rule of law, we cannot celebrate our conference in a state where the law has been suspended.”
After wide consultations and a decisive NEC resolution, the NBA announced that the 2025 AGC would now be held in Enugu, often referred to as the Coal City. The association cited several reasons for choosing Enugu:
Enugu has long been regarded as a cradle of Nigerian legal history and was the capital of the old Eastern Region.
The city boasts modern convention facilities, adequate hotel accommodations, and an international airport with direct links to major cities.
Enugu has enjoyed relatively stable and constitutional governance in recent years.
The statement from the NBA read:
“We are pleased to announce that the 2025 Annual General Conference will now be held in the historic Coal City of Enugu. We call on all members and stakeholders to lend their full support as we embark on this new path.”
The AGC typically draws over 15,000 lawyers, judges, academics, and corporate stakeholders from across Nigeria and abroad. With an economic impact estimated in billions of naira, the relocation is a significant loss for Rivers State’s hospitality and service industries.
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In previous years, host states have leveraged the conference to showcase their infrastructure, attract investment, and improve their national image. Port Harcourt, which had begun preliminary preparations, including the renovation of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Centre and construction of temporary housing, will now see those efforts go to waste.
For Enugu, the relocation is a windfall. City officials have already begun mobilizing resources to accommodate the influx of visitors. Hotels are reporting surging bookings, and local businesses are gearing up for what many describe as “the NBA effect.”
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State issued a statement welcoming the NBA’s decision:
“We are honoured to host this prestigious gathering. Enugu is a city of law, learning, and peace. We assure the NBA of our full support and a conference to remember.”
The NBA has, historically, played a central role in defending Nigeria’s democracy. From resisting military dictatorship in the 1980s and 90s to pushing for judicial independence and electoral reforms in the 2000s, the legal profession has often stood at the barricades when democratic principles were under threat.
By relocating the 2025 AGC, the NBA has reinforced its commitment to this legacy. The decision has been praised by a wide range of stakeholders:
Groups like SERAP and the Centre for Democracy and Development have lauded the move as principled and necessary.
Law faculties in universities such as UNILAG and UNN have used the opportunity to lecture on constitutionalism and civil liberties. Retired justices and senior lawyers, including some critics of the NBA, described the decision as “the right call at the right time.”
However, not all reactions have been supportive. Some members of the legal community argue that the NBA should have stayed neutral or used the conference to directly challenge the unconstitutional developments in Rivers.
A lawyer from the Abuja branch who requested anonymity said:
“While I understand the principle behind the relocation, it could also be seen as a retreat. Imagine the symbolic power of thousands of lawyers descending on Port Harcourt and using the AGC platform to demand constitutional order.”
Others have questioned whether the NBA acted unilaterally without sufficient consultation, though the NEC has maintained that due process was followed.
Several legal actions challenging the state of emergency in Rivers are currently pending before the Supreme Court. The NBA has pledged to monitor these cases closely and offer legal support where needed.
With the new venue announced, the AGC Planning Committee is working around the clock to update logistics and inform delegates. Early bird registration will reopen next week, and a revised program schedule is expected soon.
Confirmed speakers include international jurists, human rights activists, and political theorists.
As Nigeria grapples with rising authoritarianism, insecurity, and economic distress, the NBA’s decision to relocate its most important annual event is more than a logistical adjustment—it is a moral and constitutional stance.
By choosing principle over convenience, the NBA has reaffirmed its place as a guardian of democracy, even as the institutions of state falter. Whether this move will trigger broader reforms or merely stand as a symbolic gesture remains to be seen.
Source: SR
