*Warns Of Threat To Nigerian Democracy
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One of Arise TV’s anchors on the Morning Show, Rufai Oseni, has issued a direct challenge to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to expedite the hearing of a case filed by several Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors contesting the legality of the six-month state of emergency imposed on Rivers State and the appointment of a sole administrator. Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show on August 20, 2025, Oseni warned that the court’s delay risks undermining Nigeria’s democratic framework, particularly in light of the controversial local government elections scheduled for August 30, 2025, which critics argue violate electoral laws.
Oseni’s remarks come amid escalating tensions over the planned Rivers State local government elections, which have drawn opposition from political leaders, party factions, and civil society groups for failing to meet the mandatory 90-day notice requirement under Sections 23(4), 23(5), and 12 of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Law. The elections, backed by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, are seen by critics as an attempt to consolidate political control ahead of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s expected return on September 18, 2025.
“I think when the story of democracy is written in this country many years from now, we will ask questions about what the court did,” Oseni stated. “Today, my challenge is to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Many PDP governors filed a case against the state of emergency and its sole administrator. Why has the Supreme Court not heard that case? Or do they want to delay it until the end of the six-month state of emergency?”
Oseni expressed skepticism about the court’s willingness to act, saying, “I might be wrong, but I’m issuing a challenge this morning because I do not think the Supreme Court will hear that case. If they hear it, it will be a miracle. I will come on air and celebrate the Supreme Court. But my gut instinct tells me otherwise because that’s the bane of the development of Rivers as it is today.”
He warned that the court’s inaction could set a dangerous precedent, allowing future presidents to exploit state of emergency clauses to settle political scores. “If the Supreme Court does not hear a case like this, we will not be able to determine whether the state of emergency was justified, and it will pave the way for other presidents to use the same clause to settle political scores. That’s how Nigeria begins to disintegrate morally and politically,” Oseni said. He urged the court to “save democracy” by addressing the case promptly.
Oseni also criticized the planned August 30 elections, noting that the RSIEC failed to provide the required 90-day notice—a violation previously cited by Wike’s allies to challenge elections held under Governor Fubara in October 2024. “The Rivers State electoral laws are clear that you must provide a 90-day threshold. As we speak, no 90-day threshold was given,” he said. “They have just gone ahead with this determination of the election date under a sole administrator.”
He highlighted concerns raised by Rivers State elders, who argue that the absence of a legally constituted RSIEC, ongoing court cases challenging the sole administrator’s authority, and violations of state autonomy threaten the election’s legitimacy. Oseni accused Wike of hypocrisy, noting that his allies successfully overturned Fubara’s 2024 local government elections on similar grounds but now support the current process because it favors their interests. “Did he ignore the first local government elections held by Fubara that were not in his favor? No. He went to court, and people associated with him overturned those elections,” Oseni said.
Oseni argued that the elections are a strategic move to entrench Wike’s influence by securing control over local government structures and the Rivers State House of Assembly, potentially weakening Fubara upon his return. “He knows that local government holds sway in the grand political scheme of the state,” Oseni said. “Once his local government people are elected—likely many who pander to him—he’ll be able to hold Fubara by the jugular.”
He further criticized Wike’s claim that the state of emergency was imposed to “save Fubara,” calling it a pretext to tilt the political equation in Wike’s favor. “Don’t pee on our backs and tell us it’s raining,” Oseni remarked, warning that such actions undermine Nigeria’s federal architecture and democratic governance.
The Supreme Court’s silence on the state of emergency case, filed under suits like SC/CV/1174/2024, has fueled accusations of judicial inaction, especially as multiple related cases remain pending in federal and state courts. Oseni’s call reflects public frustration with systemic issues, including the judiciary’s role in upholding democratic principles amid Nigeria’s escalating insecurity and governance challenges.
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