The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State has sparked nationwide outrage, with governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, condemning the move as unconstitutional and a threat to democracy.
PDP Governors: ‘A Blatant Assault on Democracy’
Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, strongly opposed the action, describing it as a dangerous precedent that undermines Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
In a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja, Mohammed called the suspension of Rivers State Governor Similaya Fubara and other elected officials illegal and an outright violation of democratic principles.
“The PDPGF has noted with concern the suspension of democratically elected officials in Rivers by the president. We state categorically that this is a threat to democracy. This is a premeditated attack on Rivers, the PDP, and other opposition parties in the country. It is a great threat to democracy and an ill wind that will blow no one any good,” Mohammed declared.
He warned that emergency rule in Rivers could worsen political instability, heighten insecurity, and erode investor confidence in the state.
Peter Obi: ‘A Dangerous Return to Authoritarianism’
Labour Party’s Peter Obi also voiced his strong opposition, taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to denounce the president’s decision.
Obi called the move reckless and unconstitutional, warning that it could roll back Nigeria’s democratic progress since 1999.
“The unilateral decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove Governor Similaya Fubara of Rivers State from office is not only unconstitutional but also reckless. It has plunged us back into a state of lawlessness, hugely undoing the progress we have made in these 26 years of democratic journey,” Obi wrote.
He further alleged that the federal government was tightening its grip on power by sidelining democratic processes and called on Nigerians to resist executive overreach.
Legal Experts, Opposition Demand Immediate Reversal
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) joined the growing opposition, with its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, emphasizing that emergency rule should only be declared under strict constitutional limits.
“The removal of elected officials under the pretext of emergency rule is unconstitutional and unacceptable,” Osigwe said in a statement.
Political analysts have also criticized the move, calling it an abuse of executive power and a threat to federalism.
Tinubu’s Controversial Decision
In a national broadcast on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended the governor, deputy governor, and state lawmakers for six months.
While the presidency insists the action was necessary to restore order, critics argue it is a politically motivated power grab that could destabilize the nation’s democracy.
With calls for reversal growing louder, all eyes are now on the federal government’s next move, and whether it will heed the mounting pressure to uphold democratic principles.
