A coalition of prominent political leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it an unconstitutional overreach and a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy. The coalition also accused the National Assembly of fraudulently approving the emergency declaration by bypassing the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority vote.
At a press conference on Thursday, Atiku, flanked by El-Rufai, Labour Party spokesperson Yunusa Tanko, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha, described Tinubu’s actions as illegal and a blatant violation of the 1999 Constitution. The coalition urged the judiciary to swiftly strike down the emergency declaration and called on Nigerians, civil society organizations, and political groups to reject the move.
Constitutional Violations and Fraudulent Approval
Atiku emphasized that Section 305 of the Constitution allows the president to declare a state of emergency only under extreme conditions, such as threats to public safety, national security, or Nigeria’s sovereignty. He argued that the political crisis in Rivers State, which pits Governor Siminalayi Fubara against his predecessor Nyesom Wike, does not meet these criteria.
“This action is not only unlawful but also a clear subversion of democracy and imposition of autocratic federal control over a duly elected state government,” Atiku stated. “Even if an emergency declaration were valid—which it is not—it would still require a two-thirds majority approval of all members of the National Assembly. If this approval is not secured, the proclamation must automatically cease to have effect.”
The coalition accused the National Assembly of failing to uphold its constitutional duty by approving the emergency declaration through voice votes rather than a transparent, counted vote. Section 305(6)(b) of the Constitution mandates that such a declaration must be supported by at least 240 members of the House of Representatives and 73 senators. However, both chambers opted for voice votes, making it impossible to verify whether the required majority was achieved.
“The National Assembly’s approval of this declaration is fraudulent and undermines the rule of law,” Atiku said. “By resorting to voice votes, they have denied Nigerians the transparency and accountability required in such a critical decision.”
A Dangerous Precedent
The coalition warned that Tinubu’s actions set a dangerous precedent that could be used to arbitrarily remove any governor or dismantle democratic structures in the future. They called on Nigerians to resist what they described as a brazen assault on the Constitution and the institutions of democracy.
“We strongly condemn this development and call on all Nigerians of good conscience to resist this brazen assault on the constitution of our country and the institutions of our democracy,” Atiku declared.
Background of the Crisis
On Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly. He appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the sole administrator of the state.
Tinubu cited “disturbing” violence in the state, including explosions and the vandalization of petroleum pipelines, as the basis for his decision. However, critics argue that the crisis is primarily a political dispute between Fubara and Wike, and does not justify the suspension of democratic institutions.
Calls for Judicial Intervention and National Resistance
The coalition urged the judiciary to act swiftly to nullify the emergency declaration and restore constitutional order in Rivers State. They also called on civil society organizations, political groups, and all Nigerians to reject the move and defend democracy.
“This is not just about Rivers State; this is about the future of our democracy,” El-Rufai said. “If we allow this to stand, no governor or elected official will be safe from arbitrary removal by the federal government.”
