The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is set to bring together some of Nigeria and Africa’s most prominent political, legal and human rights voices as it holds its 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Liberian President George Weah and prominent human rights lawyer Professor Chidi Odinkalu among the high-profile speakers.
The conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” is scheduled to hold from August 21 to 28, 2026, at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt.
The annual gathering is expected to provide a major platform for discussions on some of the most contentious issues confronting Nigeria, including political leadership, economic hardship, insecurity, justice, democratic governance, accountability and the future direction of the country.
The NBA, in a letter dated July 6, 2026, specifically invited Sowore to participate as a panelist in a session titled “Power Play: Politics, People, and Nigeria’s Future.”
According to the association, the session will examine critical national issues, including jobs, security, the economy, justice and the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
The invitation places Sowore, one of Nigeria’s most outspoken anti-establishment political figures, on the same high-profile conference platform with Osinbajo, Weah, Odinkalu and other leading voices in law, politics, academia and public affairs.
The NBA said the conference would bring together jurists, policymakers, thought leaders and industry experts to engage in strategic discussions on critical national and global issues.
Among the issues listed by the association are economic growth, industry and trade development, foreign exchange regulation, legal sector advancement and Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.
The conference will also feature discussions on contemporary social justice issues, while providing opportunities for professional networking and knowledge exchange.
Former Liberian President George Weah is scheduled to deliver the keynote address, adding an international dimension to an event expected to attract significant attention within Nigeria’s legal and political circles.
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is also among the prominent figures billed to participate, alongside Professor Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and a leading voice on human rights and democratic governance.
The NBA has also used its conference publicity to spotlight Sowore’s decades-long activism and political career.
In a separate “Speaker Spotlight,” the association described Sowore as the founder of the African Action Congress and convener of the Take It Back Movement, as well as a Nigerian activist, pro-democracy campaigner, journalist and publisher of Sahara Reporters.
The association traced his activism to 1989, when he was a student at the University of Lagos, and noted that he later became president of the university’s Students’ Union in 1992.
According to the NBA, Sowore’s student activism focused on students’ welfare, opposition to cult-related violence and the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The association noted that his activism resulted in his expulsion from the University of Lagos on two occasions.
The NBA further described Sowore as a two-time presidential candidate and the current presidential candidate of the AAC.
“Sowore is a two-time presidential candidate and the current presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC),” the association stated in his profile.
It added that he “has remained consistent in his fight against the abuse of power, advocating for accountability, promoting democratic governance, and defending fundamental human rights for over three decades.”
The NBA also highlighted Sowore’s establishment of Sahara Reporters in 2006, describing the platform as an online news organisation created to expose corruption, promote transparency and give voice to stories that are often ignored by mainstream media.
The association said Sowore also spent eight years teaching African politics and history as a lecturer at the School of Visual Arts and the City University of New York before returning to Nigeria to pursue public office.
“Sowore remains one of Nigeria’s most prominent voices for democracy, good governance, and social justice,” the NBA stated.
Other prominent figures listed to participate in the conference include Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, Professor of International Law and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja; Professor Azubike Chinwuba Onuora-Oguno, an international human rights scholar and legal academic at the University of Ilorin; and several Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
The SANs listed include Bode Olanipekun, Ahmed Raji, J. McCarthy Mbadugha and Omamuzo Erebe.
Other speakers include Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso, Justice Daketima Gabriel Kio of the Rivers State High Court, Florence N. Agbiji, Etaba Agbor, Umar Faruq Hussein, Ikechukwu Ekwueme, Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam, Sir Oluwatosin Babatunde Olufon, Muhammed Ndakudu Adam, Dr Emmanuel Oluwafemi Olowononi, Ituah Imhanze and Steven Thiru.
The convergence of politicians, legal experts, human rights advocates, academics and international figures comes at a time when questions over Nigeria’s economic condition, security situation, democratic institutions, political accountability and governance remain subjects of intense public debate.
With Sowore expected to speak on politics and Nigeria’s future alongside former Vice President Osinbajo and other prominent figures, the “Power Play” session is likely to attract particular attention as participants debate competing visions for the country’s political and democratic future.
The NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference is therefore expected to go beyond professional legal discussions, with the gathering providing a high-profile forum for confronting some of the most difficult questions surrounding Nigeria’s leadership, economy, justice system, democracy and place in the global community.