Seven governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have taken legal action against the Federal Government over the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
The governors of Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara, through their Attorneys-General, filed a suit at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, arguing that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State violated the 1999 Constitution and undermined democratic governance.
In their petition, the governors urged the apex court to nullify Fubara’s suspension, arguing that Tinubu lacked the constitutional authority to remove an elected governor and appoint a sole administrator. The suit also challenges the suspension of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the use of voice votes in the National Assembly to ratify the emergency proclamation.
The legal challenge came on the same day that the sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), announced the immediate suspension of all political officeholders and appointees in the state. Those affected include the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, commissioners, and special advisers.
Ibas also directed the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to submit reports on their councils’ activities to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government.
The political crisis in Rivers has been ongoing for over 18 months, primarily driven by a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The feud escalated into a constitutional crisis, prompting Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on March 18, 2025, suspending the governor, his deputy, and state lawmakers for an initial six-month period.
The PDP governors argue that the President’s actions set a dangerous precedent for democracy in Nigeria. Their suit seeks:
• A declaration that the President has no constitutional power to suspend an elected governor and deputy.
• A nullification of the emergency rule in Rivers State.
• A court order restraining the Federal Government from interfering in the governance of Rivers State.
• A prohibition on future attempts to suspend any governor under the guise of emergency rule.
While Fubara has received support from former local government chairmen in Rivers, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has called for dialogue to resolve the crisis. Speaking at an Ijaw National Congress meeting in Yenagoa, Diri urged the President and National Assembly to form a peace committee to mediate the dispute.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) also appealed to Tinubu to reverse Fubara’s suspension and uphold democratic principles.
Meanwhile, Rivers’ new administrator, Ibas, has faced criticism from civil society groups, who warned against appointing caretaker administrators for local governments. A group, Pilex Centre, accused the Federal Government of using the emergency rule to impose its political agenda on the state.
As the legal battle unfolds, political tensions remain high in Rivers, with stakeholders awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter.
