…As National Assembly Confirms President Consulted Leadership Before Declaring State of Emergency
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly rejected President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as unconstitutional and a direct assault on democracy.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the opposition party asserted that President Tinubu has no legal authority to suspend a democratically elected governor and replace him with an unelected administrator.
The party argued that Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as administrator of the state amounts to “state capture” and is part of a broader plan to impose a one-party system in Nigeria.
According to the PDP, Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which the President cited in his proclamation, does not grant him the power to single-handedly execute a state of emergency without approval from the National Assembly.
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“The unwarranted imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of a larger vicious plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate the opposition, impose a totalitarian one-party state, and turn the country into a fiefdom,” the PDP alleged.
The party also warned Vice Admiral Ibas not to assume office, cautioning him against taking any actions that could undermine democratic governance in Rivers State.
“For emphasis, Governor Fubara was democratically elected for a tenure of four years, which cannot be unconstitutionally abridged, we are urging all Nigerians to resist what it described as an illegal takeover of power,” the statement emphasized.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has confirmed that President Bola Tinubu consulted its leadership before declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.
In a statement on Tuesday, House Spokesman Akin Rotimi Jr. stated that a high-level meeting was held between President Tinubu, key security officials, and the leadership of the National Assembly ahead of the declaration.
According to Akin Rotimi, President Tinubu briefed the assembly’s leadership on his plan, citing the escalating political crisis and security threats that had resulted in the destruction of critical national infrastructure.
