Declaration of emergency rule in Rivers, a threat to democracy, say PDP Governors

• Urge President to rescind decision

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have described Tuesday’s state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu as the greatest threat to democracy in Nigeria.

They tagged the development as an ill wind that will blow no one any good.

The PDP Governors said this in a statement personally signed by their Chairman and Governor of Bauchi State,

Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed on Wednesday.

They categorically called the action of the President an unwarranted but premeditated attack on Rivers State, the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties.

The State of emergency declared in Rivers State, they further maintained, 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 Governors therefore called on the President to listen to wise counsel and the voice of reason, as well as accept that he made grievous mistakes and acted in haste, by reversing “this atrocious and retrograde decision before it is too late”.

The statement by the PDP Governors reads, “The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum ( PDP-GF) 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 His Excellency , 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” is 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 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in it’s 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 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“The NBA affirmed their 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 grevious mistakes and acted in haste, and reverse this atrocious and retrograde decision before it is too late”, the statement concluded.