Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that it is unconstitutional.
Tinubu had, on March 18, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers, appointing retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator. However, PDP governors from Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara insist the president lacks the authority to remove elected officials or appoint a sole administrator.
In their Supreme Court filing, they argue that the proclamation did not meet constitutional requirements and that the National Assembly’s approval via voice vote was unlawful. The governors are seeking to nullify the emergency rule and prevent further executive overreach.
