Rivers State Gripped By Constitutional Crisis As Eze Demands Reversal Of State Of Emergency, Threatens Legal Action

The political landscape in Rivers State remains turbulent following President Bola Tinubu’s controversial declaration of a state of emergency on March 18, 2025.

Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), has become a vocal critic of the President’s decision.

Eze has issued a stern ultimatum, demanding that the state of emergency be reversed within seven days or face legal action.

Eze’s condemnation of the President’s action is based on the belief that it is a clear violation of the Nigerian Constitution and an alarming display of authoritarian tendencies.

He claimed that the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly is an abuse of presidential power, fuelled by bias in the ongoing political feud between Governor Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

“The action of President Tinubu… is premeditated, highly condemnable, unconstitutional, reprehensible and undemocratic,” Eze stated in a press release issued earlier today.

He emphasized that Section 305 of the Constitution, referenced by President Tinubu, does not grant the President the authority to suspend elected officials during a state of emergency.

Eze further asserted that Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, explicitly outlines the procedure for the removal of a Governor or Deputy Governor from office, deeming any alternative means a “political maneuvering and mutiny” against the supreme law of the land.

He warned that the President’s actions risk tarnishing Nigeria’s image on the international stage, painting Tinubu as a “self-styled despot, on a mission to strangulate the country’s democratic institutions.”

Chief Eze has vowed to pursue legal action against President Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the appointed Administrator of Rivers State if constitutional democracy is not restored within the specified timeframe.

“It is baffling to watch President Bola Tinubu, who claims to have stood and fought for true democracy all his life, turning into a modern-day tyrant,” he lamented.

“By the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy and the Rivers State Assembly, President Tinubu intentionally trampled on the democratic right of Rivers electorate to choose who leads them.”

Eze didn’t hold back in his accusations, alleging that President Tinubu and Minister Wike are the “masterminds” behind the political crisis in Rivers State, motivated by the desire to exploit the State’s treasury.

He pointed to the swift declaration of a state of emergency as evidence of a pre-existing plan to undermine Governor Fubara.

He also questioned the justification for releasing the withheld monthly allocation of Rivers State to the appointed Sole Administrator, arguing that it violates the Supreme Court’s ruling that funds should only be released with an existing appropriation law.

Eze expressed his disappointment with the National Assembly’s perceived inaction in addressing the constitutional crisis.

He criticized Senators and Representatives for allegedly failing to properly scrutinize the President’s actions and for not securing the required two-thirds majority to approve the declaration of a state of emergency.

According to Chief Eze, quoting former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal, who represents Sokoto South in the 10th Senate, that the required two thirds majority, that is 73 senators of 109 senators, did not approve the president’s request, in contravention of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended so Tinubu acted illegally.

Despite his criticism of the government’s actions, Eze acknowledged and commended those who have voiced their opposition to the state of emergency.

He lauded Senators Abaribe, Dickson, and Tambuwal for their stance, and expressed gratitude to figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Falana, South South Governors, the entire PDP Governors, PANDEF, Labour Congress, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, civil society organisations, Wabara, Jonathan, and Soyinka for “standing with Rivers people.”

He specifically agreed with former President Goodluck Jonathan’s assessment that the declaration was “a clear abuse of offices, clear abuse of power, clear abuse of privileges, cutting across the three arms of government.” Similarly, he cited Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s assertion that the declaration betrayed the spirit of federalism.

Addressing potential criticism for challenging the actions of a President from his own party, Eze emphasized that his APC membership does not obligate him to support “evil and undemocratic acts.”

Eze commended Governor Fubara for his resilience and urged the people of Rivers State to remain calm, assuring them that “every right and legal step will be taken to correct this constitutional aberration and rape of democracy in Rivers State.”

The next seven days will be crucial as the nation awaits President Tinubu’s response to Eze’s demands and the potential escalation of the crisis through legal proceedings.

The situation continues to be closely monitored by political analysts and observers across the country.