Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a suit before the Supreme Court, challenging the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state.
Gatekeepers News reports that the suit marked SC/CV/329/2025 and filed before the apex court on Tuesday, April 8, was initiated by Governors of Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers state on March 18 over the ongoing political crisis and the vandalisation of oil installations.
The president also suspended Siminalayi Fubara, the state Governor; Ngozi Odu, his deputy; and all House of Assembly members for six months.
Tinubu then appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator for Rivers.
The president’s request got Rivers Emergency rule was approved by both Senate and House of Representatives.
The suit questions the legality of Tinubu’s actions, particularly whether the president can lawfully suspend or interfere with the offices of a Governor and deputy Governor, replacing them with a sole administrator.
The Governors are also challenging the suspension of the Rivers state house of assembly and the constitutionality of the appointment of a sole administrator.
The plaintiffs argue that the actions taken by the president are in violation of several provisions of the 1999 Constitution, particularly regarding the powers and functions of state governors and assemblies.
The Governors are praying the court to determine “whether upon a proper construction and interpretation of the provisions of Sections 1(2), 5(2), 176, 180, 188 and 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can lawfully suspend or in any manner whatsoever interfere with the offices of a governor and the deputy governor of any of the component 36 states of the federation of Nigeria and replace same with his own unelected nominee as a sole administrator, under the guise of, or pursuant to, a proclamation of a state of emergency in any of the state of the federation, particularly in any of the plaintiffs states?”
They are also seeking a declaration from the supreme court that the suspension of Fubara, Odu, and the state assembly, as well as the appointment of Ibas, are unconstitutional and unlawful.
