The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and indeed Nigerians listened with dismay to the national broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in which he announced the imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State—an action the party describes as a blatant violation of the 1999 Constitution.
The PDP outrightly rejects what it calls an attempt by the President to override the Nigerian Constitution and undermine the votes and will of the people of Rivers State by seeking to depose a democratically elected government and impose an undemocratic rule in the state.
In a statement signed by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, the party condemned the President’s unconstitutional declaration suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appointing an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd), to govern the state.
The party described this as a direct attack on democracy and a disregard for the rights of Rivers residents to elect their leaders.
“The action of Mr. President clearly borders on an attempt at state capture. It is the climax of a well-orchestrated plot to forcefully take over Rivers State, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) has long sought to do by stoking crises to undermine democracy in the state,” the statement read.
The PDP further argued that the situation in Rivers State and the reasons cited by President Tinubu do not justify a state of emergency under the 1999 Constitution, rendering the declaration legally incompetent.
The party also warned that the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of a broader strategy to instill fear, weaken the opposition, impose a totalitarian one-party system, and turn Nigeria into a political fiefdom.
Citing constitutional provisions, the PDP emphasized that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which President Tinubu relied upon, does not grant him the exclusive power to unilaterally declare or execute a state of emergency without the statutory approval of the National Assembly.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 305(2) states: ‘The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation, including the details of the emergency, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the proclamation.’”
The PDP warned that President Tinubu’s directive for an unelected individual to take over governance in Rivers State is illegal and poses a serious threat to the peace and stability of not just Rivers but the entire country.
The party further stressed that Governor Fubara was democratically elected for a four-year tenure, which cannot be unconstitutionally terminated.
The PDP cautioned Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to respect the Constitution and refrain from any actions that could derail democratic governance in Rivers State.
