March 19, 2025 by and Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

The All Progress Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) last night differed on the imposition of emergency rule on Rivers State.

While the APC argued the decision was  ‘’constitutionally backed,’’ the PDP said it was an ‘’utter violation’’ of the supreme law.

Their positions were contained in statements by their spokespersons Felix Morka (APC)  and Debo Ologunagba (PDP).

The ruling party argued that by the action,  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ‘’demonstrated courage and leadership in forestalling a looming breakdown of law and order’’ in the state.

It blamed Governor Siminalayi Fubara for sowing the seed that led to the emergency rule.

The party said that Fubara not only destroyed the democratic foundation and ended governance in the state, he ‘’stripped himself of all constitutional protections of the office of governor.’’

 The APC  statement partly reads:  ‘’The declaration of a state of emergency, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was a necessary, constitutionally-backed measure to protect lives and property and extend governance to the good people of Rivers State. The safety and well-being of the people are paramount at this time and must trump all political considerations.

 ‘’Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the ‘’author’’ of the extreme events that have unfolded in the state.” 

But in its statement, the opposition PDP rejected the emergency rule ‘’based on the conviction that the President lacks constitutional powers to do such.’’

“The PDP rejects this attempt by the President 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, ‘’ the party said.

It said the suspension of Fubara  and appointment of an unelected individual, Vice-Admiral Ibokette Ibas   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.’’

The PDP added: “Mr President should recognise that his order to an unelected individual to forthwith take over the government of Rivers State is illegal and a clear recipe for crisis, a  threat to the peace and stability of not only Rivers State but the entire nation.’’

It  said that  the    imposition of emergency rule in the state was a ‘’part of the larger vicious plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate the opposition, impose a totalitarian one-party state and turn the country into a fiefdom.”

The statement reads: “The action of Mr. President therefore clearly borders on an attempt at state capture. It is 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.

“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.

“ 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.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 305 (2) provides that “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.

“ . Nigeria is not under a military rule where the Governance of a State is by appointment by a junta,”