By The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has officially announced a change in the venue for its highly anticipated 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC). Originally scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the prestigious legal gathering will now be held in Enugu, Enugu State. This significant decision was prompted by the NBA’s assessment that the prevailing circumstances within Rivers State have rendered the initial location unsuitable for the association’s flagship event.
The announcement was conveyed in a joint statement issued on Thursday, bearing the signatures of the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN; the General Secretary, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara; and Emeka Obegolu, SAN. In the statement, President Osigwe explicitly cited President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State as the primary catalyst for the relocation of the conference to Enugu.
President Osigwe elaborated that the NBA had engaged in thorough deliberations regarding the situation in Rivers State. This included discussions with the Chairpersons of NBA branches located within Rivers State and an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) convened on March 27, 2025. Following these consultations, a strong consensus emerged within the association that proceeding with the AGC in a state perceived to be administered “unconstitutionally” by a Sole Administrator would be untenable in good conscience.
The NBA statement acknowledged the initial enthusiasm that greeted the announcement of Port Harcourt, often referred to as the Garden City, as the host for the 2025 AGC. However, the subsequent “unfortunate turn of events” in Rivers State has significantly disrupted the advanced preparations for the conference, leading the NBA to reconsider its choice of venue.
According to the NBA’s assessment, Rivers State is currently governed by a retired military officer serving as the Sole Administrator, whose administrative approach is characterized by a command-style governance that disregards constitutional provisions, court rulings, and ongoing legal disputes. The association asserted that the Sole Administrator’s actions have undermined fundamental democratic institutions and processes, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the rule of law. The NBA’s statement emphasized that despite appearing in civilian attire, the Sole Administrator governs as if the state were under military rule.
Given these deeply concerning and “undemocratic developments,” the NBA concluded that Port Harcourt could no longer be considered a justifiable venue for the 2025 Annual General Conference. President Osigwe articulated that hosting the association’s premier event in Port Harcourt under the current circumstances would implicitly lend support to what the NBA perceives as constitutional breaches and an undermining of the rule of law. Consequently, the NBA has urged all its members and relevant stakeholders to fully support the necessary relocation of the 2025 AGC to Enugu.
