The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in the United States and The Peoples Advocate (TPA) have criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s imposition of state of emergency in Rivers State and the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator.

In separate statements, NADECO USA president, Lloyd F. Ukwu and TPA coordinator, Courage Nsirimovu, condemned the decision, describing it as unconstitutional and a violation of democratic principles.

Ukwu argued that Nigeria operates as a federation, and Rivers State is a sovereign entity within it, making Tinubu’s unilateral suspension of an elected governor unconstitutional.

“Rivers State is not a subordinate institution, nor is Tinubu its overseer. His own presidency remains under a cloud of illegitimacy, declared by INEC despite widespread irregularities,” Ukwu said.

He insisted that the people of Rivers State elected Siminalayi Fubara as governor in 2023, not an imposed administrator, and demanded Ibas’s immediate resignation.

Nsirimovu, on his part, alleged that Ibas planned to appoint administrators for the state’s 23 local government areas, a move he described as an attempt to hand control to allies of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

“The federal government’s unlawful interference is heating up the polity and projecting Rivers as crisis-ridden,” he said, calling for a halt to such actions.