The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly rejected the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, stating that the President has no constitutional power to suspend a democratically elected governor.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP described the President's action as a direct violation of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the right of the people to elect their leaders.
Ologunagba emphasized that President Tinubu’s move to suspend both the legislative and executive arms of the Rivers State government and appoint an unelected administrator, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd), as the head of the state was unconstitutional.
“The PDP outrightly rejects this attempt by the President to override the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and undermine the votes and will of the people of Rivers by seeking to depose a democratic government and foist an undemocratic rule in the State," Ologunagba stated.
The PDP further criticized the action as an assault on Nigeria’s democracy, accusing President Tinubu of attempting to take over the state through "state capture" in favor of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ologunagba also pointed out that the reasons cited by the President for declaring a state of emergency were insufficient and did not justify such an action under the 1999 Constitution, rendering the declaration "completely incompetent." He referenced Section 305 of the Constitution, which outlines the process for declaring a state of emergency, and stressed that such a declaration requires the approval of the National Assembly, which was not sought in this case.
The PDP also warned that the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of a larger plot to suppress opposition and impose a one-party state across Nigeria.
“The PDP cautions Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to respect the Constitution and ensure that he does not take any actions that could derail the smooth democratic governance in Rivers State,” Ologunagba said, further affirming that Nigeria was not under military rule and governance should remain democratic.
The party reiterated that Governor Siminalayi Fubara was democratically elected for a four-year tenure and that tenure could not be unjustly shortened. The PDP called on all Nigerians to stand against what it described as an unconstitutional action that threatened the peace and stability of the nation.
