Abuja, Nigeria – Eleven governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) don carry matter go Supreme Court to query wetin President Bola Tinubu fit do to suspend a democratically elected government for Rivers State. The case wey dem file dey also challenge the emergency rule wey Tinubu declare on Rivers State.
President Tinubu declare state of emergency for Rivers State on March 18, 2025 and suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months. Tinubu go appoint Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator wey go dey handle Rivers State affairs while the suspension dey go on.
Dem on Tuesday confirm say dem file the case for Supreme Court after dem notice say media don mistakenly report say dem don file am before. Dr. Festus Akande, wey be Director of Information and Public Relations for the Supreme Court, give The PUNCH this update.
The governors wey file the case come from different states including Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa. Dem dey seek make the court answer question if Tinubu get the power to suspend any elected official and if him actions violate the 1999 Constitution.
According to the document wey dey marked SC/CV/329/2025, the governors don raise eight points wey dem wan make the court address. Dem one know whether Tinubu fit lawfully suspend offices of governors and deputy governors, and if him fit dissolve any state House of Assembly under the guise of emergency rule.
“The way wey President Tinubu make the announcement fit contravene the provisions of sections of the 1999 Constitution,” the governors talk through their state Attorney Generals.
Dem also dey challenge the threat wey the president don send to other states concerning said offices fit suspend under emergency rule. Dis action dey raise questions on wether it violate the principles of federalism as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
The respondents for di case dey given 14 days to respond after dem serve dem the court papers. This legal action wey the PDP governors take come after weeks of speculation and talks among party members regarding their next steps following Tinubu’s controversial proclamation.
Before Tuesday, reports don show say seven PDP governors don ready to challenge Tinubu but dem neva officially serve the court papers. Sources from the Supreme Court and Ministry of Justice don tell The PUNCH say dem still dey wait for the papers even as the governors don reportedly file.
A state counsel from the Ministry of Justice, who speak on condition of anonymity, confirm say dem no receive any official document from the governors’ camp. “We dey prepare response wey we go take when dem finally serve us,” e talk.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri, wey also dey chair South-South Governors’ Forum, don call for urgent action from the Federal Government to reverse the emergency rule wey dey ground Rivers State and to reinstate Governor Fubara.
