The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) recently convened its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with over 23,000 lawyers and delegates in attendance. The event, themed "Beyond Limits," was a significant gathering of legal minds from across Nigeria and beyond. This year's conference was particularly notable as it marked the NBA's return to Port Harcourt after a year's absence due to the political crisis in Rivers State.
In 2025, Port Harcourt was initially set to host the NBA's flagship event; however, the conference was relocated to Enugu State due to the political instability in Rivers State. President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency and suspension of elected officials in Rivers State led to the NBA's decision to relocate the conference, citing the unconstitutional and undemocratic nature of the emergency rule. This decision resulted in a significant economic loss for Rivers State, estimated at N7 billion.
The NBA's decision to return to Port Harcourt was not "compensatory" but a fulfillment of a promise made to the state, according to NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN. The return was contingent upon the restoration of democratic normalcy in Rivers State, which was achieved with the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The conference was a symbolic victory for constitutionalism and a demonstration of the state's stability and readiness to host national and international events.
The return of the NBA conference injected a significant economic boost into Rivers State, with the hospitality, transportation, and food sectors experiencing a major upswing in business. The influx of delegates represented a tangible demonstration of the state's stability and its readiness to host events of national and international scale. The event was a celebration of legal practice and national development, but it was impossible to ignore the political context that had nearly derailed it.
The long-running, bitter feud between Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara hung over the conference like a specter. Governor Fubara, in his address to the conference, struck a tone of resilience and a call for justice. He used the platform to charge lawyers and judges to defend the rule of law and hold governments accountable, reflecting on his administration's experience of walking "through the furnace of power."
Despite the historic nature of the return, the conference was not without its critics. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, described the event as "lackluster, uninspiring and deeply disappointing," particularly criticizing the quality of conference materials and logistics. Furthermore, the keynote address by former Liberian President George Weah drew criticism from human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN.
The NBA's 2026 Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt was a multi-layered event that showcased the resilience of democratic institutions in Rivers State. For Rivers State, it marked the reclaiming of a significant national platform that had been lost to "unhealthy politics." The event represented both the restoration of lost opportunity and a reminder of the delicate political peace that now prevails in the state.
Key points
- The Nigerian Bar Association's 66th Annual General Conference was held in Port Harcourt, marking a triumphant return to the city after a year's absence.
- The conference was relocated from Port Harcourt to Enugu State in 2025 due to the political instability in Rivers State.
- The event was attended by over 23,000 lawyers and delegates, and it provided a significant economic boost to the state.
