PDP governors blast Tinubu over emergency rule in Rivers, calls it biased and divisive
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling the move “unstatesmanlike, biased, and divisive.”
The statement was issued on Wednesday by the forum, led by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, following Tinubu’s controversial decision to suspend Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state’s House of Assembly.
In his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday evening, President Tinubu explained that the state of emergency was necessary to restore order in the state, which has been embroiled in political crisis for nearly two years.
These crises primarily stem from a power struggle between former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor Fubara.
Tinubu announced that the emergency rule would last for six months and appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the new administrator of the state.
The decision came shortly after military personnel took control of the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
In response to the suspension, the PDP Governors’ Forum expressed its deep concern over the suspension of democratic rule in the state, urging President Tinubu to reverse what they described as a harmful and regressive decision.
The PDP governors stood in solidarity with Governor Fubara and the people of Rivers State, accusing Tinubu of allowing his Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to play an active and destabilizing role in the state’s political crisis.
They criticized Tinubu’s silence on Wike’s involvement, claiming it was enabling the crisis to persist.
The statement issued by the forum read:
”The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum notes with grave concern and utter misgiving the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast of Tuesday, 18th March, 2025.”
“We stand in solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and the good people of Rivers State at this very difficult and trying moment of the state’s political history. There is no other time that our philosophy of touch one touch all more apt than now.
“He who goes to the court of equity must go with clean hands. Mr. President, your silence on the active role played by your Minister of the FCT in the Rivers impasse is golden and enabling. He has become a law unto himself because he was playing out your script. Now we know. This is totally unstatemanly, biased, and divisive.
“We state categorically that this unwarranted but premeditated attack on Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties is today, the greatest threat to democracy in our dear country, Nigeria and it is an ill wind that will blow no one any good.
“It is a dangerous course of action that will not only endanger our hard-won democracy, but will exacerbate the crises in the nation, deepen mistrust, elevate security threats, destroy the economy, and our national cohesion and stability.”
The PDP Governors’ Forum also echoed concerns raised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which condemned the suspension of elected officials under the pretext of emergency rule.
It continued, “The Nigerian Bar Association in its response signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has already expressed grave concern about the purported suspension by the President of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor, and the Mlmembers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The NBA affirmed its commitment to upholding the Constitution, defending democratic governance, and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in Nigeria. In their words, ‘A state of emergency is an extraordinary measure that must be invoked strictly within constitutional limits. The removal of elected officials under the pretext of emergency rule is unconstitutional and unacceptable.’
“The Forum completely aligns itself with the NBA and promises to subject Section 305 (3) of the Constitution to judicial interpretation. This authoritarian shenanigan is unacceptable and cannot stand.
“Mr. President is therefore called upon to listen to wise counsel and the voice of reason, as well as accept that he made grievous mistakes and acted in haste, and reverse this atrocious and retrograde decision before it is too late.”
