ABUJA, Nigeria—A prominent coalition of Nigerian political parties, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has strongly criticised the now-terminated state of emergency in Rivers State, labelling it an “egregious act of federal overreach.”
In a press release, the CUPP welcomed the end of the six-month emergency rule but asserted that the action was a “direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic principles.” The statement claimed that the suspension of the elected state governor, deputy governor, and the state’s House of Assembly was an “unconstitutional power grab” that set a “dangerous precedent for the erosion of state autonomy.”
The emergency was reportedly declared on March 18, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu, citing a political dispute between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister Nyesom Wike, as well as isolated incidents of pipeline vandalism. The CUPP argued this failed to meet the constitutional requirements for such a declaration, as it was made without the request of elected state officials.
The coalition also expressed profound disappointment with the Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a case brought by governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the emergency. The CUPP described the court’s inaction as a failure to uphold constitutional authority, allowing “an illegal act to persist.”
The CUPP’s National Secretary, Peter Ameh, said the six months “stripped from Governor Fubara’s tenure” could not be reclaimed, representing a clear violation of constitutional provisions. The coalition called for immediate transparency from the Presidency, demanding the publication of the legal memo justifying the emergency, its financial costs, and a comprehensive review of any rights violations.
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