A storm of legal and political turmoil is sweeping through Rivers State, as the eight Chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) branches in the state have jointly raised the alarm over what they describe as a dangerous erosion of democracy and the rule of law.
In a strongly-worded press statement issued recently, the chairmen condemned the ongoing state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ratified by the National Assembly — a move which saw the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire State House of Assembly, replacing them with a military-appointed Sole Administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas (rtd.).
The lawyers expressed deep concern over what they called a rapid descent into lawlessness, pointing to the administrator’s sweeping dissolution of Boards, Commissions, and Local Government Councils, which were subsequently filled with handpicked appointees. These actions, they argue, are unconstitutional and fly in the face of both legislative processes and recent Supreme Court rulings — especially the 2024 decision prohibiting the appointment of caretaker committees in place of democratically elected local government officials.
Rather than restoring calm as intended, the chairmen say, the emergency rule has escalated tensions and created an atmosphere of fear and repression. They cite an incident on April 7, when peaceful protesters and journalists demonstrating against the state of emergency were allegedly assaulted and tear-gassed by security forces near the CFC flyover in Port Harcourt.
One of the most visible consequences of the unrest is the relocation of the Nigerian Bar Association’s prestigious Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu. The event, expected to draw over 30,000 lawyers and inject significant revenue into the state’s economy, was moved due to safety concerns, leaving local businesses in the lurch and residents grappling with lost economic opportunities.
Calling the situation “baffling,” the chairmen questioned why the same Sole Administrator — who bypassed budgetary approval — is receiving federal allocations, despite similar infractions being part of the allegations used to suspend the elected governor.
They condemned what they see as a selective application of the law and urged the federal government to restrain the administrator from engaging in political activities, which they believe are worsening the crisis. The group further called on the Nigerian Police to respect citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression, vowing that the NBA’s Human Rights Committees are ready to pursue justice for any victims of police brutality.
The chairmen appealed to President Tinubu and the National Assembly to rein in the powers of the Sole Administrator and ensure that democratic governance returns to Rivers State at the end of the six-month emergency period. They also demanded that the long-promised Peace and Reconciliation Committee finally take action.
Despite the bleak outlook, the NBA leaders called on residents of Rivers State to remain peaceful and law-abiding, promising continued legal support and advocacy.
“We remain courageous in the defense of the integrity of our state and our country,” the statement concluded. “Let us continue to join hands to pray and work toward the return of normalcy to our dear State.”
