The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has taken a significant stance against what it perceives as undemocratic practices in Rivers State by relocating its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt to Enugu. This decision follows the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, which led to the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator. The NBA strongly condemned Ibas’s actions, stating that his governance style disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and ongoing litigation, effectively undermining democratic institutions and processes in the state.
The NBA’s decision was made after an emergency meeting with its branch chairmen in Rivers State and a subsequent National Executive Council (NEC) session on March 27, 2025. There was an overwhelming consensus that the AGC could not proceed in a state governed unconstitutionally by a Sole Administrator. The association argued that the suspension of elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, contravenes Sections 11 and 188 of the Constitution, while the National Assembly’s ratification of the emergency rule via a voice vote instead of a two-thirds majority is a grave constitutional breach.
Initially, there was significant enthusiasm among NBA members to attend the conference in Port Harcourt, with registration figures soaring. However, the political developments in Rivers State, including the imposition of emergency rule and the appointment of a Sole Administrator, disrupted these plans. The NBA emphasized that hosting the AGC in such circumstances would tacitly endorse constitutional violations and subversion of the rule of law.
In relocating the conference to Enugu, the NBA reaffirmed its commitment to upholding constitutional democracy and the rule of law. The association chose Enugu, known as the Coal City, due to its infrastructure and capacity to host a conference of this scale. This move reflects the NBA’s principled stance against what it views as unconstitutional governance in Rivers State. The decision underscores the importance of maintaining democratic norms and respecting constitutional provisions in Nigeria.
