Amidst divergent responses following President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the People's Democratic Party Governors' Forum has stated that they will pursue legal actions against the federal government.
The PUNCH It was reported that President Tinubu announced a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara along with his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly for a period of six months.
The President subsequently named retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the Exclusive Administrator of the state.
The PDP governors argued that the President’s moves were against the constitution and posed a threat to Nigeria’s democratic values.
In search of legal recourse, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde denounced the imposition of an emergency rule within his state. He further stated that the group of governors from his party would contest this issue in court.
In Issue 110 of his bi-weekly newsletter titled "The Business of Governance," Makinde stated that suspending democracy in the state constitutes an unlawful action, which every patriotic Nigerian should denounce.
The governor stated, "It brings me joy to see our esteemed party, the PDP, showcasing the necessary fortitude and guidance. Following an urgent gathering of the PDP Governors' Forum, we collectively agreed to contest President Tinubu’s measures in an appropriate legal venue. It is imperative that we do not stand idly as the democratic system we've nurtured over nearly thirty years faces erosion."
I am here today to assert that the announcement of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative branches of government by the presidency constitutes an unlawful act that all sensible individuals within our society should reject.
Our democratic principles should never be taken lightly, regardless of our individual emotions and allegiances. Now is the moment to advocate for fairness, equality, and justice.
Makinde encouraged Nigerians to voice their concerns when anything jeopardized the country's advancement.
The Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, expressed backing for the governors' forum and stated that they will contest the state of emergency in court.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH Osadolor observed that President Tinubu did not consider the consequences of his statement.
The youth leader stated that the court was still the final hope for the average person.
Osadolor stated, "The President does not have the authority to suspend two branches of the democratically elected government—the legislature and the executive—at the state level. The federal constitution of Nigeria makes no provision for granting such power."
Has the President overlooked the fact that his role is governed by laws? Even though he possesses the authority to announce a state of emergency, these powers do not extend to suspending officials. In previous instances, such as when President Goodluck Jonathan imposed a state of emergency, governors continued to maintain control within their respective states.
Supporting Osadolor’s stance, the Niger Delta Youth Council, a sociopolitical organization, voiced complete backing for the PDP Governors' Forum in their decision to contest the state of emergency through legal means.
This statement was made by NDYC President Bene Mamamu on Friday.
He claimed that the state of emergency imposed on Rivers by President Tinubu reflects his prejudice and animosity towards the Niger Delta area.
Reverse emergency rule, Ijaw group urges Tinubu
At the same time, an activist organization called the Ijaw People’s Association condemned the state of emergency, labeling it as a “violation of democratic principles” and “extreme desperation.”
The IPA urged the President to demonstrate his democratic principles by overturning the decision for the sake of peace and orderly progress.
Patrick Ebikebuno, who leads the organization, made this statement when addressing journalists in Port Harcourt.
Ebikabaro observed that the statement caused concern among the Ijaw community, affecting individuals from this ethnicity residing in Ondo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa states.
He highlighted the tranquil disposition of the Ijaw community, saying, "Our temperament is mild and we are highly adaptable."
Previously, the South-South Governors' Forum requested the lifting of the state of emergency in Rivers State.
This announcement came in a statement released by Governor Douye Diri, chairman of the South-South Governors' Forum, from his office in Yenagoa, which serves as the capital of Bayelsa State.
The forum suggests that the political crisis in Rivers State should preferably be addressed via legal and constitutional methods instead of through an executive order.
At the same time, the government of Cross River State kept its distance from the stance taken by the South-South Governors' Forum against implementing an emergency rule in Rivers.
Dr. Peter Odey, the acting governor of the state, stated that the administration completely supports President Tinubu’s efforts to achieve peace and stability in the oil-rich region.
According to a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Ekpong, Odey mentioned that Cross River State was not involved in the decision-making process before the forum announced its stance.
Additionally, diverging from the position taken by the governors of the region, the Edo State Government distanced itself from the opposition to the emergency rule imposed in Rivers State.
According to a statement released by Fred Itua, the Chief Press Secretary for the governor, the administration indicated that President Tinubu’s action stemmed from his comprehension of the matter at hand.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State voiced his backing for President's decision, calling it an essential step towards enhancing national security.
Emergency rule ‘democratic Armageddon’ – Bode George
Later, during an interview on Friday, he said Arise TV A former Deputy National Vice Chairman of the PDP, Bode George, criticized the president’s imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it an unlawful action intended for political manipulation.
George stated, "Declaring a state of emergency comes with specific prerequisites. For me, this represents a recurrence of what could be called a democratic apocalypse in Nigeria, so we must proceed with utmost caution."
George similarly criticized Wike regarding the revocation of the PDP headquarters' Certificate of Occupancy in Abuja, mentioning that the minister ought to recall how crucial the party has been to his own political ascent.
Kwankwaso knocks NASS
In the 2023 general election, the NNPP presidential aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso, voiced concerns about declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Verifying his stance against it through an announcement posted on Friday using his authenticated account Facebook Page, Kwankwaso likewise pondered over past political setbacks and cautioned against reliving those mistakes.
The administrator gets held-back LG funds along with other salaries.
Speaking to the leaders of local governance bodies, the state’s Chief Administrator, Ibas, alleviated worries regarding overdue wages, reinforcing his dedication by verifying the disbursement of the retained state funds.
He stated, "I want to confirm that the held funds have finally been unblocked, and I am giving an order for immediate action to be taken so as to guarantee that the wages are distributed with no additional postponement."
Previously, during a distinct gathering with royalty, he cautioned them about promoting cultism and other negative behaviors within their regions.
Nonetheless, a source from inside the Presidency disclosed that appointing a single manager in Rivers State was intended for mending the fractured groups and bringing stability to the political environment, not for enforcing complete emergency governance.
As stated by the source, this action aligns with continuous initiatives undertaken by both the Senate and governors from the South-South region aimed at facilitating dialogue between the conflicting sides.
"These are proposals on the table. Traditionally, the purpose of implementing an emergency rule is to provide the parties concerned with some time to calm down and reach a settlement," according to the source.
IYC pulls FG into ECOWAS court
The Ijaw Youth Council has submitted a legal case against the Federal Government to the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States located in Abuja, contesting the imposition of an emergency rule in Rivers State.
The lawsuit filed on March 20, 2025, names the petitioners as Comrade Ibiso, John Benjamin, Alpheus Ngere, Tamunokuro Tomquin, Benjamin Kemuel, Fabians Abbey, Williams Toby, Dabo Briggs, Precious Otoni, Attah Ebirin, and Tonye Stephen.
The applicants are requesting that the ECOWAS Court issue an order to annul the suspension of elected officials as well as the dismantling of democratic institutions in Rivers State.
Furthermore, they are seeking a court directive to invalidate all choices made by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retired), who was designated as the exclusive administrator by the President.
The lawsuit seeks an additional $10 million in punitive and exemplary damages due to the asserted violations and difficulties resulting from the actions of the Federal Government.
Dr. Michael Emuh, the Chairman of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, has called on the Federal Government to employ skilled young people for monitoring pipelines in the area.
On Friday, Emuh released a statement provided to Saturday PUNCH called for prudence and strategic measures to safeguard the country's economic well-being.
APC, opposition lawmakers clash
In another development, the ruling APC chided aggrieved opposition lawmakers and critics of the state of emergency, saying the action was in the best interest of the people.
This response followed fresh mobilization efforts led by Senator Seriake Dickson from Bayelsa West and Senator Ireti Kingibe from the Federal Capital Territory.
On Thursday, the National Assembly approved the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Tinubu.
The resolution was taken at separate plenary sessions of the two chambers, where they deliberated on the suspension of the state governor, his deputy, and the state assembly members.
The parliament approved Tinubu’s proclamation via a voice vote despite objections from opposition leaders who urged rejection.
On Friday, Kingibe criticized the employment of a voice vote for approving the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
The FCT senator stated that a simple voice vote was insufficient to accurately gauge whether the necessary two-thirds majority agreement had been achieved.
Dickson, a prominent senator, also voiced opposition to the emergency rule in Rivers State, terming it unconstitutional.
On Friday, the ex-governor of Bayelsa State expressed his concerns in an issued statement.
During the Thursday plenary session in the Senate, the legislator contended that the proclamation did not meet the standards set forth in the constitution.
"As I've emphasized multiple times, I voiced my concerns during the private meeting about how the statement failed to meet the requirements set out in the constitution, according to my beliefs as a democrat committed to supporting the Nigerian Constitution," Dickson said.
Dickson specifically praised Senator Aminu Tambuwal for questioning the legitimacy of suspending elected officials in Rivers State.
He condemned the Senate President, alleging that he was trying to suppress him and distort his comments.
The ex-governor additionally contended that senators were not required to seek approval from the Senate President before voicing their opinions on national matters.
In response, the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, brushed aside their demonstrations.
Basiru told Saturday PUNCH that there was no reason to escalate the sentiments of Nigerians, as the upset legislators were attempting to do, maintaining that the President had made the correct choice.
The same view was expressed by Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, the APC National Vice Chairman (South-East). She pointed out that it seemed evident the opposition legislators were merely trying to gain public favor.
Fubara alive, well – Kinsmen
The controversy regarding the location of the suspended governor came to an end on Friday when a member of his inner circle stated that he was safe and sound.
Although the informant insisted on remaining anonymous, they stated that they wouldn’t reveal the governor’s location; however, they did confirm that he was in good health.
"I have communicated with the governor, and there is no reason to be concerned," the source also mentioned.
This follows after certain members of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council expressed concerns regarding the suspended governor’s location, mentioning that they have not received any communication from him since his suspension.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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