Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political crisis in the state.

The president also suspended Siminalayi Fubara, the state governor, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and members of the state assembly. Tinubu nominated Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, to administer the state.

In a letter signed by Egondu Esinwoke, their convener, the CSOs accused Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) and former Rivers state governor, of attempting to frustrate governance in the state.

The CSOs claimed Wike instructed 27 lawmakers to renounce their membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to please the president.

The coalition alleged that Wike attempted to collude with the judiciary to overthrow the will of the people and remove Fubara as governor.

“Their plot however hit a brick wall as the Chief Judge of Rivers State, a man of impeachable character was unwilling to collude with them,” the petition reads.

“Disappointed at the integrity of the Chief Judge of Rivers State, they wrote a petition against him to the Department of State Services (DSS) calling for his investigation and arrest.

“With their plots falling like pack of cards, the FCT Minister resorted to using the President, Mr. Bola Tinubu to oust the Governor of Rivers State.”

The CSOs said the president’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers state and the suspension of the governor, deputy governor, and legislative arm of the state government were “unconstitutional and ultra vires”.

Citing section 305 of the constitution, the coalition said the president may declare emergency rule, but cannot remove of a democratically elected governor.

”It may interest you to note that the conditions stipulated by the said section for proclamation of Emergency rule (War, breakdown of law and order etc) were not met as Rivers State was very peaceful at the time,” the petition reads.

“The only security situation in the creeks of the delta was the vandalization of oil pipeline, an act known as economic sabotage, not listed in the constitution as ground for declaration of state of emergency.

“Section 188 of the constitution of Nigeria stipulates the procedure for the removal of a Governor and any action outside the prescribed procedure under the section afore-referenced is unconstitutional and void. Section 1(2) of the constitution frowns at the imposition of military rule on River’s people.

“As at the moment, all withheld monthly federal allocations have now been released to the Sole Military Administrator who is accountable not to the people but to President Bola Tinubu, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio – who superintended over the Senate approval of the constitutional blunder and; the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

“The same S. 305 is clear, that the proclamation only takes effect when 2/3 majority of the National Assembly — Senate and House of Representative affirms same.

“However, the President insisted it takes effect immediately in flagrant disregard of the Nigerian Constitution. Further-more, the compromised Senate and House of Representatives used a voice vote to affirm the illegality.”

The CSOs, therefore, urged the UN to ask Tinubu to “restore democratic governance in Rivers, place sanctions on Nigeria for defaulting in her obligation to promote democracy and democratic institutions within her territory and advise the President to limit his actions within the confines of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which is the ultimate law and from whence he derives his powers and authority”.