The State Governors, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP), have directed their Attorney Generals to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, saying that Section 305(3) of the Constitution is subject to judicial interpretation.
Naija News reports that Rivers State has faced political turmoil for almost two years, with the Minister of the Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and his successor, Sim Fubara, competing for power, resulting in a governance impasse.
After several interventions, Tinubu declared a state of emergency on Tuesday evening and suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected state assembly members for six months.
The president also appointed the Retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the new administrator of the state.
However, after the PDP’s governors’ Zoom meeting on Wednesday, in a communiqué signed by the Forum’s Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, made available to journalists on Saturday, expressed their solidarity with Governor Fubara and the people of Rivers State.
The PDP governors stated, “The Forum employed the occasion to review the unfortunate proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast of Tuesday, March 18, 2025; and frowned at 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 Forum reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the Constitution, defending democratic governance, and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in Nigeria, therefore we have resolved to instruct our Attorneys General in the PDP-controlled States to challenge Section 305 (3) of the Nigerian Constitution as amended and subject it to judicial interpretation.
“The Forum stands in solidarity with His Excellency, Sir 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.”
