The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s national broadcast in which he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing the action as an “utter violation of the 1999 Constitution” and a deliberate attempt to “override the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and undermine the votes and Will of the people of Rivers State by seeking to depose a democratic government and foist an undemocratic rule in the State.”

In a statement issued on X on Tuesday and signed by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP insisted that the declaration, which included the suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the appointment of an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd), to govern the State, was “a clear attack on our nation’s democracy, an abrogation of the votes and democratic right of the people of Rivers State to choose their leader under the Constitution.”

The PDP further stated that the move amounted to an attempt at “state capture” and was “the climax of a well-oiled plot to forcefully take over Rivers State for which the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been bent on stoking crisis to ensure that democracy is ultimately truncated in the State.”

The party also argued that the situation in Rivers State did not warrant a declaration of a state of emergency, stating,

“Nigerians are invited to note that the situation in Rivers State and the reasons adduced by the President cannot justify the declaration of a state of emergency in the State under the 1999 Constitution, rendering the declaration completely incompetent.”

Warning of a broader agenda, the PDP alleged that “the unwarranted imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of the larger vicious plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate opposition, impose a totalitarian one-Party State and turn the country into a fiefdom.”

Citing constitutional provisions, the PDP argued that the President did not have the sole authority to enforce a state of emergency, stating,

“In any case, nothing in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution relied upon by the President in the declaration grants him the exclusive powers to declare or execute the declaration of a state of emergency without recourse to the statutory approval of the National Assembly.”

The PDP further referenced Section 305 (2) of the Constitution, which states, “The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the proclamation.”

The party warned that the President’s directive for Vice Admiral Ibas to take over governance of Rivers State was “illegal and a clear recipe for crisis, threat to the peace and stability of not only Rivers State but the entire nation.”

Reaffirming its position on Governor Fubara’s mandate, the PDP stated,

“For emphasis, Governor Fubara was democratically elected for a tenure of four years which tenure cannot be unconstitutionally abridged.”

The party also cautioned Vice Admiral Ibas against assuming office, warning,

“The PDP therefore cautions Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to respect the Constitution and ensure that he does not take any action or step which is capable of derailing smooth democratic Governance in Rivers State. Nigeria is not under a military rule where the Governance of a State is by appointment by a junta.”

Faridah Abdulkadiri

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