The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly opposed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it an unconstitutional overreach that undermines democracy.
In a statement on Tuesday, March 18, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba criticised the president’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state assembly, arguing that Tinubu has no authority to remove an elected governor.
“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 State by seeking to depose a democratic government and foist an undemocratic rule in the State,” Ologunagba said.
The party also condemned Tinubu’s appointment of a retired vice-admiral, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the state’s administrator, describing it as a direct assault on Nigeria’s democracy.
“The appointment of an administrator to govern the state is a clear attack on our nation’s democracy, an abrogation of the votes and democratic right of the people of Rivers State to choose their leader under the Constitution,” Ologunagba added.
He accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of engineering the crisis in Rivers to justify a takeover of the state.
“The action of Mr. President therefore clearly borders on an attempt at state capture. It is the climax of a well-oiled plot to forcefully take over Rivers State for which the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been bent on stoking crisis to ensure that democracy is ultimately truncated in the State,” he said.
Ologunagba further argued that the situation in Rivers does not meet the constitutional requirements for an emergency declaration.
“Nigerians are invited to note that the situation in Rivers State and the reasons adduced by the President cannot justify the declaration of a state of emergency in the State under the 1999 Constitution, rendering the declaration completely incompetent,” he said.
The PDP warned that the emergency rule is part of a broader agenda to weaken opposition parties and create a one-party state.
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“The PDP alerts that the unwarranted imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of the larger vicious plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate opposition, impose a totalitarian one-Party State and turn the country into a fiefdom,” he stated.
Ologunagba also dismissed Tinubu’s reliance on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying it does not grant him unilateral powers to enforce emergency rule without legislative approval.
“In any case, nothing in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution relied upon by the President in the declaration grants him the exclusive powers to declare or execute the declaration of a state of emergency without recourse to the statutory approval of the National Assembly,” he said.
He warned that installing an unelected leader in Rivers could destabilise not only the state but the entire country.
“Mr President should recognize that his order to an unelected individual to forthwith take over the government of Rivers State is illegal and a clear recipe for crisis, threat to the peace and stability of not only Rivers State but the entire nation,” he added.
The PDP insisted that Fubara’s tenure must not be cut short and urged Ibas to avoid any actions that could further destabilise the state.
“For emphasis, Governor Fubara was democratically elected for a tenure of four years which tenure cannot be unconstitutionally abridged,” Ologunagba said.
He advised Ibas against taking any steps that could derail democracy in Rivers.