As mixed reactions continue to follow the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has announced its intention to take legal action against the Federal Government, arguing that the move is unconstitutional and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic principles.
The state of emergency, which was declared by President Tinubu, saw the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months. Additionally, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) was appointed as the Sole Administrator of the state.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, expressed strong opposition to the declaration in his bi-weekly newsletter, The Business of Governance (Issue 110). He described the suspension of democratic structures in Rivers State as an illegal act that all well-meaning Nigerians should condemn. The PDP Governors’ Forum held an emergency meeting where they unanimously agreed to challenge the President’s actions in court, asserting that the declaration undermines Nigeria’s hard-won democracy.
Makinde emphasized that the declaration was a violation of democratic norms, stating, “We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.” He urged Nigerians to speak out whenever actions threaten the nation’s progress.
The Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, Timothy Osadolor, also criticized the declaration, stressing that the President’s actions were without constitutional basis. “There is no place in the Constitution that allows the suspension of elected officials in this manner,” Osadolor said, arguing that past declarations of a state of emergency did not include suspending officials.
Support for the PDP Governors’ Forum’s position was expressed by the Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), which denounced the state of emergency, claiming it reflected President Tinubu’s bias against the Niger Delta region. The Ijaw People’s Association (IPA) also condemned the declaration, calling it a “desecration of democracy” and urging the President to reverse his decision for the sake of peace and development in the region.
In contrast, some state governors, such as Peter Odey of Cross River and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, voiced support for the President’s actions, aligning themselves with the view that the move was necessary for maintaining stability in Rivers State.
The South-South Governors’ Forum, which initially called for the reversal of the state of emergency, has since faced opposition from some regional leaders, including Cross River and Edo State, who dissociated themselves from the group’s stance.
While the political debate rages on, a source within the Presidency clarified that the appointment of a sole administrator in Rivers State was intended to reconcile the feuding factions and stabilize the political situation, rather than imposing full emergency rule.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has taken the matter to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court, seeking to overturn the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State and requesting punitive damages for the alleged violations.
As the legal and political battle intensifies, the debate over the emergency rule in Rivers State continues to spark divisions within the political landscape, with both supporters and critics mobilizing for their respective causes.
