Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend elected officials in Rivers State, labeling the action as unconstitutional and a threat to Nigeria’s democratic federalism.
In a statement released on Wednesday, El-Rufai emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant the President the authority to suspend elected officials at the state level, warning that such a move undermines democratic principles.
“The responsibilities of a president are extensive but constrained by the Constitution and the law. They certainly do not include the power to dismiss officials who were elected by the people,” El-Rufai asserted.
While acknowledging the security concerns raised by President Tinubu, El-Rufai argued that, if necessary, a state of emergency could have been declared to grant security agencies the extraordinary powers required to address the crisis, without dismantling democratic structures.
The former governor referenced a Supreme Court ruling in Dariye v. Attorney General of the Federation, which explicitly declared the suspension of elected officials unlawful. He urged President Tinubu to reconsider his decision, stressing the importance of upholding constitutionalism and the rule of law.
El-Rufai also recalled that Tinubu, in his previous capacity as an opposition leader, had criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan’s state of emergency in the Northeast, even though it did not involve the removal of elected officials. “A similar reconsideration is warranted in this case to prevent further damage to the people of Rivers State and ensure the Federal Government operates within constitutional limits,” El-Rufai added.
Cautioning against a repeat of the 1962 Western Region crisis, El-Rufai called on Nigerians to resist any attempts to undermine democratic institutions. “I appeal to all patriots and voices of reason to speak out against this gross violation of the Constitution and the rule of law,” he added.
