Nigerian Bar Association conference hosts heated political debates

The 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt has become a focal point for intense political debate and security concerns. Presidential contenders for the 2027 elections, including Omoyele Sowore, Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, and Adewale Adebayo, engaged in heated exchanges regarding Nigeria’s economic and security future. Key topics included the fuel subsidy, transportation infrastructure, and the necessity of decentralizing the national police structure. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, supported the push for state police to address structural weaknesses in the current security architecture.

Amidst the political discourse, Omoyele Sowore alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS) conducted illegal surveillance on him, claiming he discovered an electronic tracking device attached to a security vehicle used by his team. Additionally, the NBA issued an urgent call for intervention after delegates traveling to the conference were stranded on the Oghara–Sapele Road due to truck obstructions.

Legal and social issues also surfaced, including criticism of the NBA regarding the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu despite a 2022 Court of Appeal discharge, and calls for Northern leaders to prioritize justice in political disputes.