Nigeria Bar Association NBA Cancels Port Harcourt As Venue For 2025 Annual General Conference

By, Promise Imoh.

The Nigeria Bar Association have announced the cancelation of Port Harcourt as the City to host the 2025 annual General Conference (AGC).

This was revealed in a statement released and signed by the President of the Senior Advocates Of Nigeria SAN, Mazi Adam Osigwe, the Secretary General SAN, Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara and the chairman AGCPC, Emeka Obegolu SAN.

Recall that there have earlier announced the 2025 Annual General conference to be held in Port Harcourt just before Rivers State was declared a state of emergency and a sole administrator bestowed with the responsibility of overseeing affairs of the state.

The statement revealed that, the emergence of a sole Administrator in the state is highly unconstitutional and a violation to the section 305 of the 1999 constitution. It emphasized that the current state of emergency makes the City a no longer justifiable venue for the Annual General Conference as many concerned members of the Association has called for a change of venue.

“Currently, Rivers State is being governed by a retired military Officer, appointed as a sole Administrator, who operates with a command-style approach that disregard constitutional provisions, Court decisions and pending litigation, he governs as though the state is under a military rule.

“The voice of our members particularly the ones who are calling for a change of venue grew stronger over time, we convened with the chairman of NBA branches in Rivers State and held an emergency session of the National Executive Council NEC on the 27th of March 2025. The overwhelming consensus was that NBA can no longer in good conscience proceed with the AGC in a state governed unconstitutionally by a sole Administrator.

“NEC reaffirmed that the state of emergency declared in Rivers State violates section 305 of the 1999 constitution. It further noted that the suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions contravenes section 11 and 188 of the constitution.

“Given this undemocratic development, Port Harcourt cannot no longer be considered a justifiable venue for the 2025 AGC. The NBA has taken a principle position in accordance to the law”.  The statement reads partly.

Announcing the new venue for the conference, the statement disclose that the Cole city of Enugu state will be the host of the 2025 AGC.

“We are pleased to announce that the 2025 annual general conference will now be held in the historic cole City of Enugu. The City possess the infrastructure and capacity to host a conference of our scale and significance. We are confident that with concerted efforts, this change of venue will not compromise our commitment to delivering a successful and impactful conference.

“We call on All members and stakeholders to lend their full support as we embark on this new path with unity, diligence, and a shared commitment to our values. We will make this transition a resounding success.
May God bless The Federal Republic of Nigeria” the statement concludes