Nollywood actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing the move as “treasonable” and “unconstitutional.”
The former Labour Party chieftain, speaking on Monday, March 24, 2025, lambasted Tinubu for suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and state lawmakers, while appointing a sole administrator to oversee the state.
“What the President did was a martial law. It’s unconstitutional. It is illegal and it is criminal, because that is the real treason we are talking about,” Okonkwo stated emphatically.
The lawyer-politician argued that Tinubu’s actions violated Nigeria’s constitutional framework: “The President simply suspended the provisions of the constitution, including section one. You cannot govern Nigeria or any part of it by any set of people except in accordance with the Constitution. So, the appointment of a sole administrator is alien to our Constitution and is not contemplated.”
Okonkwo maintained that the proper constitutional processes for removing elected officials were bypassed:
“He did not declare state of emergency in Rivers. He declared martial law. What he did was a coup against the Rivers people. The constitution is very clear on how you elect the governor (section 179, section 180), and how governor is removed (section 188, section 189). The law is very clear on how you elect the House of Assembly members and how you remove them (section 117 and section 110) – clear and simple.”
The former actor further criticized the financial implications of Tinubu’s decision, noting:
“The appointment of a sole administrator and the president’s decision to release the state’s allocation to the administrator are unconstitutional. Rivers State does not have a 2025 budget and the Supreme Court had already ruled that no appropriated bill or law exists for the state.”
Okonkwo’s scathing remarks come amid growing controversy over the federal government’s intervention in Rivers State’s political crisis. His comments echo concerns raised by constitutional lawyers and civil society groups about the legality of Tinubu’s emergency declaration and subsequent administrative measures.
