Eleven PDP governors have dragged President Tinubu to the Supreme Court over his declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State. What they’re asking for could change everything. Read Details
Eleven state governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a bold legal challenge before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, seeking to nullify President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as unconstitutional and a grave threat to democratic governance.
The suit, marked SC/CV/329/2025, was filed on April 8, 2025, though dated March 20, 2025. The action comes in response to Tinubu’s shocking decision on March 18 to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
President Tinubu, citing political instability and the vandalisation of key oil installations, had also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the sole administrator of the state — a move widely condemned as unconstitutional and dictatorial.
The 11 PDP governors backing the lawsuit are from Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa.
According to the suit filed by their legal team, the governors are asking the Supreme Court to determine whether the president has the constitutional authority to suspend elected governors and lawmakers, replacing them with unelected appointees, under the guise of emergency rule.
“Clear Abuse of Power” — Governors Fight Back
In the court filings, the governors insist that Tinubu’s action violates several sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including Sections 1(2), 5(2), 176, 180, 188 and 305, which safeguard the autonomy of state governments and protect elected officials from arbitrary removal.
The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and the entire Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as the appointment of a sole administrator, are unconstitutional, unlawful, and null and void.
They further argue that the move sets a dangerous precedent capable of destabilizing Nigeria’s federal system and could open the door for future abuse by any president seeking to take over state governments by fiat.
NASS Backlash Over Role in Endorsing Emergency Rule
The National Assembly had controversially approved Tinubu’s request for emergency rule in Rivers, drawing criticism from legal experts and opposition figures who accused the legislature of failing to act as a constitutional check on executive overreach.
Observers say this Supreme Court case could become one of the most important constitutional tests in recent Nigerian history, as it seeks to determine the limits of presidential power in a democratic federation.
Political Earthquake Looms
The suit comes amid growing tensions within the political space, with many Nigerians questioning the legality and moral justification of Tinubu’s action in Rivers State. Analysts warn that if the Supreme Court rules against the presidency, it could have far-reaching implications for governance, the 2027 elections, and the rule of law in Nigeria.
The governors say they are determined to defend democracy and will not stand by while the constitutional order is dismantled.
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