State of Emergency: Tinubu’s action an assault on democracy – APC stalwart

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a direct assault on democracy and an unconstitutional move to oust Governor Siminalayi Fubara

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Eze accused the President of acting in bad faith by suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly while leaving out Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whom he described as the “arrowhead of the political crisis.”

Eze argued that Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, which President Tinubu cited as the basis for his emergency declaration, does not grant him the power to remove elected officials.

“There is no way in the entirety of Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, that the removal or suspension of a democratically elected Governor is envisaged.”

He recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan, when declaring a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States in 2013, did not remove the sitting governors, as such a move would have been unconstitutional.

The APC stalwart accused Tinubu of prioritizing oil revenue over human lives, stating that despite rising insecurity and killings across the country, the President had not declared a state of emergency in affected areas.

“Since the President took over power in 2023, Nigerians have died in droves from terrorist attacks, herdsmen invasions, and hunger. Yet, he never declared a state of emergency. But a mere threat to oil facilities has prodded the President to act with the swiftness of a magic wand.”

Eze further alleged that Tinubu’s action was influenced by Wike, claiming that after failing to use 27 defected lawmakers to impeach Fubara, the FCT Minister pressured the President into illegally removing the governor.

Eze warned that Rivers people would not allow their democracy to be hijacked, insisting that Fubara’s refusal to be Wike’s puppet was the real reason behind the crisis.

Without mincing words, the declaration of a state of emergency and the subsequent suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the State Assembly—while leaving out Nyesom Wike—is an affront to Nigeria’s democracy and stands highly condemned.”

The APC chieftain also reminded Tinubu of his past stance against Jonathan’s emergency rule in 2013, when he described it as “a dangerous trend in governance.”

Eze urged the National Assembly, governors, and all democratic forces to reject Tinubu’s decision, calling it an illegal power grab that must not be allowed to stand.