By Ghazali Ibrahim 
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has relocated its 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Enugu, in protest of the emergency rule imposed in the state.
The decision to relocate the conference was made after a state of emergency was declared in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, and a Sole Administrator was appointed to govern the state.
The NBA has condemned the move, describing it as unconstitutional and a breach of democratic principles.
In a statement released on Thursday signed by the president, the NBA expressed its disapproval of the Sole Administrator’s leadership style, which it described as a “command-style approach that disregards constitutional provisions, court decisions, and pending litigation.”
The association also criticized the suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions, stating that it violated Sections 11 and 188 of the 1999 Constitution.
The National Assembly’s ratification of the emergency via voice vote was also deemed “a grave constitutional subversion.”
The NBA has announced that the 2025 AGC will now be held in Enugu, known as the “Coal City.”
The association is confident that Enugu has the infrastructure and capacity to host a successful and impactful conference.
The relocation of the conference is seen as a bold statement by the NBA against the emergency rule in Port Harcourt and a call for the restoration of democratic principles in the state.
