The Board of Trustees of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State, describing it as unconstitutional and undemocratic.
The BoT also criticised the National Assembly for ratifying the decision through a voice vote instead of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority.
The party’s highest advisory body called for an immediate reversal of the emergency rule, which it described as “a gross violation of the Nigerian Constitution.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chairman of the PDP BoT and former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, strongly denounced President Tinubu’s decision, likening it to actions taken during military rule.
“The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, vehemently, and in very strong terms, condemns President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the democratically-elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the State House of Assembly. His decision to replace them with a sole Administrator is undemocratic and alien to our Constitution.
“This action is a gross violation of Nigeria’s Constitution – the foundational legal document that guarantees the rights of Nigerians to participate in the democratic process. It is an attack on the very essence of our Republic. It’s an action that deserves the strongest condemnation and corrective action by all well-meaning Nigerians, the judiciary, civil society, and the international community.”
Wabara lamented that Tinubu ignored his previous warnings against imposing emergency rule in Rivers, urging him to resist attempts by certain political actors to seize power through unconstitutional means.
“In my capacity as the Chairman of BoT of our great party, the PDP, and a former Senate President, I call for the reversal of this assault on our democracy. It’s sad and disheartening that Mr President ignored my earlier advice to ignore those calling for emergency rule in Rivers State.
“I had also advised him not to lean towards those attempting to hijack power through the back door in Rivers State. I had then sought his intervention as the father of the nation because the political crisis in Rivers State, if mismanaged, is capable of plunging the entire country into a needless political turmoil.”
The PDP BoT argued that while the President has the constitutional power to declare emergency rule under Section 305, the circumstances in Rivers do not justify such action.
“Whereas the President under Section 305 of the Constitution, is vested with the power to declare a state of emergency, such power is not without limits. The President can only declare a state of emergency in specific circumstances such as war, insurrection, or other situations that threaten the integrity of the nation. The situation in Rivers State does not meet the constitutional criteria for such a declaration.”
The statement further warned that the President’s decision amounts to an abuse of power.
“The absence of any pressing national emergency renders the President’s decision not only unwarranted but also an abuse of power. A declaration of emergency does not automatically dissolve or suspend elected state governments. The Constitution does not empower the President to unilaterally remove or replace elected officials; such actions amount to an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a fundamental breach of Nigeria’s federal structure.”
The BoT expressed deep concern over the appointment of an unelected Sole Administrator, calling it an outright subversion of democracy.
“The President’s decision to replace democratically elected officials with an unelected Sole Administrator is nothing short of a democratic travesty. It is a stark reminder of the fragility of our democratic institutions and the persistence of authoritarian tendencies by the President.”
The PDP BoT also accused Tinubu of hypocrisy, recalling his opposition to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s emergency rule declaration in 2013 during the Boko Haram insurgency.
“It’s surprising that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who condemned President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, when he proclaimed a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States that Boko Haram insurgents ravaged, could declare a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspend democratically-elected government unprovoked.
“This is nothing short of hypocrisy and a well-orchestrated plan to hijack power from Rivers State Governor in the accomplishment of his 2027 presidential ambition. This is a veiled plot for APC to take over Rivers State.”
The BoT further alleged that the President’s intervention is a strategic move to control Rivers’ resources.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the struggle over the control of Rivers’ resources is the genesis of the political crisis rocking the state. It’s an open secret that those who see Gov. Fubara as an obstacle to their unfettered access to Rivers’ Treasury have been pushing to remove him from office at all costs.”
The PDP BoT also condemned the National Assembly for ratifying the emergency rule through a voice vote instead of a proper physical count.
“The claims by the Speaker of the House of Representatives that there were 243 members on the register is laughable. Those 243 members should be physically present in the chamber and not on the register. Names on the register without physical presence do not in any way translate to a two-thirds majority.
“Such a serious matter cannot be decided through a voice vote; otherwise, somebody may come up one day and say the President, Governor, or Council Chairman has been impeached via a voice vote. It’s undemocratic! You must do the arithmetic physical counting or electronic ballot to arrive at a two-thirds majority, and that cannot be done by voice vote. In the Senate, the two-thirds majority is 73. The National Assembly must not be seen as a rubber stamp but serve as checks to the other arms of Government.”
The BoT called on the legislature to resist Executive overreach and prevent the strangulation of democracy.
“The National Assembly must defend our democracy and protect the rule of law. Our Constitution must be upheld as the supreme legal authority in all circumstances, and we must ensure that power remains firmly in the hands of the people, where it rightfully belongs. The Nigerian people deserve no less.”
The PDP BoT expressed solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the people of Rivers State, vowing to resist any attempts to subvert their democratic rights.
“Members of the PDP Board of Trustees, join the PDP Governors Forum, and the NWC to stand in solidarity with His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, and the good people of Rivers State at this very difficult and trying moment of the state’s political history.”
