By Hagxy Don
The Peoples Democratic Party Governors' Forum (PDPGF) has condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a direct assault on democracy and a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s political stability.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the Forum expressed solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the people of Rivers, calling the action "unwarranted, premeditated, and the greatest threat to democracy today."
The PDPGF accused Tinubu of enabling the crisis through his Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who they claim has acted above the law. "Your silence on the active role played by your Minister in the Rivers impasse is golden and enabling. Now we know," the statement read, calling Tinubu’s decision "unstatemanly, biased, and divisive."
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), through its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, also rejected the move, stating that the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly under the guise of emergency rule is unconstitutional. "A state of emergency is an extraordinary measure that must be invoked strictly within constitutional limits," the NBA warned.
The PDPGF vowed to challenge the legality of Tinubu’s decision, insisting that Section 305 (3) of the Constitution must be subjected to judicial interpretation. "This authoritarian shenanigan is unacceptable and cannot stand," the statement read, urging Tinubu to reverse the decision before it further destabilizes the nation.
As legal and political opposition mounts, the PDPGF’s stance signals a brewing constitutional showdown—one that could redefine the limits of executive power in Nigeria.