Obinna Nwaoku, Port Harcourt

The Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) has relocated its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Enugu.

The decision was made after an emergency National Executive Council meeting, where members voted to investigate and consult on the venue change.

The NBA, in a statement, strongly condemns the actions of Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas, stating that he operates with impunity, disregarding constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigation.

The association argued that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was a violation of the 1999 Constitution, specifically Sections 11 and 188, which pertain to the suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions.

The NBA also criticised the National Assembly’s ratification of the state of emergency through a voice vote, claiming that this process falls short of the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority.

NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN said, “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.