Senior lawmakers and opposition leaders in Nigeria have strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it an “appalling abuse of power” and “an affront to democracy.”
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The move has sparked nationwide debate, with legal experts and political figures questioning its constitutionality.
In an interview with Arise Prime Time, Senator Seriake Dickson, a leading member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former governor of Bayelsa State, expressed shock and dismay over the President’s proclamation.
“As a committed democrat, I have very serious concerns. I was shocked when the President’s proclamation was read yesterday evening, and I promptly issued a statement condemning it,” Dickson stated firmly.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has insisted that while the political situation in Rivers State is tense, it does not meet the constitutional threshold for removing elected officials, including the governor, his deputy, and the state assembly.
Dickson, a former Attorney General of Bayelsa State, referenced Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, explaining that emergency declarations apply in cases of war, natural disasters, or serious threats to public order. However, he emphasized that nothing in the Constitution supports the ouster of elected leaders under such circumstances.
“You can declare a state of emergency as provided for in the Constitution without necessarily removing elected leaders,” Dickson stressed. “None of this talks about removing elected officials. Even when a state of emergency is declared, it is meant to aid the elected government, not to replace it.”
Other opposition leaders, including Atiku Abubakar (PDP) and Peter Obi (Labour Party), have described Tinubu’s move as “reckless and politically manipulative.”
For the emergency rule to take effect, it must be approved by the National Assembly with a two-thirds majority—approximately 73 senators and 240 representatives. Dickson expressed doubt about the government’s ability to secure these numbers.
“It will be a difficult thing to get it passed,” he noted. “Some of us are ideologically opposed to it. This is not just about politics—it’s about protecting the sovereignty and democratic rights of the people of Rivers State.”
Despite President Tinubu’s swearing-in of Vice Admiral Ibas as the new administrator of Rivers State, Dickson argued that the declaration has not yet taken full legal effect.
“Legally and constitutionally speaking, there is no effective emergency rule until the National Assembly approves it by a two-thirds majority,” he explained.
Describing the crisis, Dickson rejected the notion that it is an ethnic conflict, saying:
“This is not a war between Ikwerre and Ijaw people. This is a political contest—a battle for control of Rivers State between a godfather and a godson,” he said, referring to tensions between former Governor and current Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Sim Fubara.
He urged President Tinubu to prioritize peacebuilding rather than imposing emergency rule. “The President should be supporting dialogue and reconciliation, not escalating tensions,” he advised.
As the situation unfolds, Dickson and opposition figures continue to rally against the approval of the emergency declaration, insisting on constitutional democracy and respect for Rivers State’s sovereignty.
“When you suspend elected officials of a state, that is like igniting a nuclear bomb in a constitutional democracy,” Dickson warned.
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