• Fubara
• PDP Governor's
• Rivers Crisis

11 PDP GOVERNORS CHALLENGE PRESIDENT TINUBU’S EMERGENCY RULE IN RIVERS STATE

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  CapitalTimesNews / 5 days
• 0
• 2 min read

Eleven governors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have approached the Supreme Court to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend elected officials and impose emergency rule in Rivers State. The governors argue that the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the State Assembly on March 18, 2025, which led to the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator, is unconstitutional. The states involved in the suit include Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa. The governors are seeking a ruling from the court on whether the President has the legal authority to interfere in state governance under the pretext of an emergency. The suit, filed by the Attorneys General of the respective states, references several constitutional provisions and questions the legality and implications of the President’s actions on federalism. The governors contend that President Tinubu’s decision violates the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and undermines the principles of federalism. The controversy began when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing prolonged political instability. The declaration led to the suspension of Fubara’s government and the appointment of Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator, marking the first military-led administration in Rivers State since 1999. The case is expected to have significant implications for Nigeria’s federal system and the relationship between the federal government and states. The Supreme Court’s ruling will determine whether the President’s actions are constitutional and whether the emergency rule in Rivers State can continue.