Eleven governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a suit at the Supreme Court to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s power to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State. They dispute the legality of the President’s actions, including suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly. They also question the appointment of a sole administrator to manage the state during the emergency.
The governors argue that the President lacks the constitutional authority to suspend elected officials and replace them with an unelected administrator under an emergency rule. They filed the suit on Tuesday, seeking judicial clarification on whether the President can lawfully carry out such actions.
On March 18, President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers. This move included suspending the state’s key elected officials and appointing Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator. While the National Assembly supported the decision, PDP governors and many political leaders strongly opposed it, calling the action unconstitutional and harmful to Nigeria’s democracy.
The 11 PDP governors represent Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa. They want the Supreme Court to clarify whether the President’s actions violate constitutional principles, particularly those related to federalism and the protection of elected officials.
The suit, labeled SC/CV/329/2025, raises important questions about the balance of power between federal and state governments in Nigeria. The Supreme Court will review the case and offer its interpretation.
Defendants have 14 days to respond as required by court procedures.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
