PDP Governors Sue Supreme Court to Halt Rivers Emergency Rule

Supreme Court Action: PDP Governors Challenge Rivers Emergency

​In March 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, leading to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months. Retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as the sole administrator of the state.

In response, governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the president’s actions. The governors involved in the suit are from Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara states. They argue that the president lacks the constitutional authority to suspend democratically elected officials and appoint a sole administrator, asserting that such actions violate sections 1(2), 5(2), and 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The PDP governors contend that the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State is unconstitutional and a threat to democracy. They have called for the immediate reversal of the suspension of elected officials and the reinstatement of democratic governance in the state.

Additionally, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has described the emergency rule declaration as unconstitutional, emphasizing that the removal of elected officials under the pretext of emergency rule is unacceptable.

The Supreme Court’s decision on this matter is awaited, as it will have significant implications for the interpretation of constitutional powers regarding the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of elected officials in Nigeria