The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is under fire for its handling of the political turmoil in Rivers State, where President Bola Tinubu imposed emergency rule on March 18, 2025, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly.
The Centre for Constitutional Watch (CCW), a Lagos-based advocacy group, accused the NBA of failing to robustly defend Nigeria’s democracy, labeling its decision to move its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu as a “timid gesture.”
In a fiery statement, CCW’s Dr. Hassan Bello argued that the NBA should spearhead a nationwide pushback, proposing a one-month court boycott to protest the appointment of a sole administrator, which he called “an affront to the 1999 Constitution.” Bello warned that silence risks normalizing such interventions, citing past emergency rule precedents in Plateau and Ekiti as cautionary tales.
The NBA, led by President Afam Osigwe, has publicly condemned the emergency rule, arguing it violates constitutional checks and balances, but insists its relocation reflects a commitment to stability and the rule of law. Osigwe emphasized that hosting the conference in Rivers amid unrest would endanger attendees, a stance that drew praise from some members but criticism from activists who see it as dodging responsibility.
The Rivers crisis, fueled by a bitter rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike—now FCT Minister—has seen protests, alleged arson, and budget disputes, deepening public unease. Women’s groups like Rivers Women Unite for Sim have rallied for Fubara’s reinstatement, amplifying pressure on the NBA. As legal scholars debate the emergency’s legality, the NBA’s next steps could shape its legacy as a democratic gatekeeper in a state teetering on the edge.