Written by Springnewsng Media Limited, March 19, 2025.

Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party during the 2023 presidential election, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Obi labeled the move as “unconstitutional and reckless,” arguing that it threatens Nigeria’s democratic stability.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Obi criticized the President’s unilateral decision to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara from office. He described the action as an unlawful overreach that undermines Nigeria’s democratic progress over the past 26 years.

“The unilateral decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State from office is not only unconstitutional but also reckless. It has plunged us back into a state of lawlessness, hugely undoing the progress we have made in these 26 years of democratic journey,” Obi stated.

He further argued that the political situation in Rivers State does not warrant such an extreme measure. He accused the President of misinterpreting Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution to justify an unjust action that serves particular interests rather than the welfare of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.

“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is not just reckless—it is a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten his grip on power at all costs. It is a degrading backdoor imposition of martial rule on a strategic part of the federation with all the implied negatives,” Obi said.

Obi emphasized that declaring a state of emergency does not provide grounds for the unilateral removal of an elected governor. He insisted that the move disregards democratic principles and could set a dangerous precedent that threatens the rule of law and the separation of powers.

“This action constitutes an unconstitutional overreach, setting a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. If left unchecked, it could foster a culture of impunity,” he warned.

Obi also called on the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders to intervene and prevent what he termed an erosion of democratic norms.

“Having already been grappling with non-adherence to electoral qualifications, rules, and massive rigging, adding arbitrary removal of elected officials will push us to a state of nature and anarchy,” he stated.

Appeal to NASS

Obi urged the National Assembly not to allow this decision to stand, warning that it would deepen the culture of impunity and lawlessness already threatening Nigeria’s democracy.

Tinubu’s Declaration and Reactions

President Tinubu, during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, announced the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly for six months. He appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as the administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during this period.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions from political stakeholders. Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, condemned the move as a political manipulation. The PDP and the PDP Governors Forum also criticized the decision, calling it an abuse of executive power.

However, the Rivers State House of Assembly has supported President Tinubu’s decision, blaming the suspended governor for what they described as his “despotic and tyrannical actions.”