A coalition of Nigerian civil society groups has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent actions in Rivers State, calling them “unconstitutional” and a “dangerous threat to constitutional rule”.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room condemned the president’s move to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, remove the elected governor and deputy governor, and suspend the state assembly for six months.
The group argues that President Tinubu’s reliance on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution is a “blatant misinterpretation of the law”, stating that while the constitution allows for a state of emergency, it does not permit the removal of elected officials. They highlighted a recent Supreme Court judgement, ironically referenced by the president, that supports this view.
The Situation Room asserts that the situation in Rivers State does not meet the constitutional criteria for a state of emergency, which include war, public disorder, or threats to the state government.
The group has called on the National Assembly to reject the president’s declaration, urging lawmakers to “uphold their constitutional duty to check executive excesses”. They also requested that any vote on the emergency declaration be televised nationally, with electronic voting, to ensure transparency.
Furthermore, the Situation Room has urged the judiciary to “assert its independence” and prevent this “assault on democracy”. They have also appealed to the international community, including the UN, the African Union, and ECOWAS, to exert diplomatic pressure on the Nigerian government.
The civil society group concluded by stating that “democracy thrives on the respect for the rule of law” and called for the “full restoration of constitutional governance in Rivers State”.
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