The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced the relocation of its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt to Enugu in response to the ongoing constitutional crisis in Rivers State.
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The decision follows an emergency session of the NBA’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on March 27, where members overwhelmingly voted to change the venue due to concerns about the state of emergency declared in Rivers State on March 18.
According to NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the association could not “in good conscience” hold its flagship event in a state currently governed by a military-appointed sole administrator operating with what he described as “a command-style approach that disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigation.”
The NBA’s statement noted that the emergency declaration in Rivers State violates Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, while the suspension of elected officials contravenes Sections 11 and 188. The organisation also questioned the legitimacy of the National Assembly’s ratification process, which reportedly used a voice vote rather than the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.
“To hold our flagship event in such circumstances would amount to a tacit endorsement of constitutional violations and subversion of the rule of law,” the statement read.
The conference will now take place in Enugu, which the NBA described as having “the infrastructure and capacity to host a conference of our scale and significance.” Association leaders expressed confidence that the change would not compromise the quality of the event and called on members to support the transition.
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