Governors of seven states governed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court, contesting the six-month suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were suspended by President Bola Tinubu following his March 18 declaration of a state of emergency in the state, during which he appointed a sole administrator to oversee governance.

The National Assembly backed Tinubu’s decision, but the governors of Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara states have challenged the legality of the suspension, arguing that the President lacks the constitutional authority to take such action.

The seven governors, through their Attorneys-General, are asking the Supreme Court to declare that:

  1. The President has no constitutional powers to suspend a democratically elected governor and deputy governor under the guise of a state of emergency.
  2. The suspension of the Rivers State House of Assembly is unconstitutional, as Sections 192 (4) (6) and 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) do not grant such authority.
  3. The appointment of a sole administrator in place of an elected governor is unlawful and should be nullified.
  4. The National Assembly’s ratification of Tinubu’s actions through a voice vote is invalid, as the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority for such decisions.

The governors have requested the Supreme Court to:

  • Nullify the state of emergency proclamation and the suspension of Fubara and his deputy.
  • Restrain the federal government from interfering with the constitutional duties of the Rivers State government.
  • Prohibit the President from suspending any other state governor under similar circumstances.

The plaintiffs argue that the President’s proclamation did not meet the constitutional requirements for declaring a state of emergency and was politically motivated rather than grounded in security concerns.

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