The Supreme Court has upheld the President’s constitutional authority to declare a state of emergency and suspend elected officials in areas facing serious law and order challenges.
In a 6–1 decision on Monday, December 15, 2025, the court ruled that the President may exercise emergency powers to prevent a breakdown of public order.
It emphasized that any suspension of elected officials under such a declaration must be limited in duration.
The ruling follows legal challenges to the emergency declared by the President in March in Rivers State, during which the governor, deputy governor, and members of the state House of Assembly were suspended and replaced with a sole administrator.
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The emergency rule in Rivers State was lifted in September, restoring the suspended officials to their positions.
Several legal challenges had sought to overturn the emergency declaration, but the courts dismissed them.
The Supreme Court’s decision is expected to guide the exercise of presidential emergency powers and clarify constitutional limits during crisis situations.