March 25, 2025 – Governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court to contest the six-month suspension of Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State. This legal action highlights the ongoing political tensions in Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the members of the Rivers House of Assembly for six months after declaring a state of emergency in the state on March 18. Following this, he appointed a sole administrator to govern Rivers State.
The legislature supported the President’s decision, but the PDP governors are questioning his authority to take such actions.
The governors from Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara states argue that President Tinubu does not have the legal power to suspend a democratically elected governor and deputy governor under the guise of a state of emergency.
Their lawsuit, which identifies Tinubu and the National Assembly as defendants, is challenging the legality of the suspension.
The governors seek a declaration from the Supreme Court stating that “the President has no powers whatsoever or authority to suspend a democratically elected governor and deputy governor of a state in the Federation of Nigeria under the guise of or pursuant to the proclamation of a state of emergency in any state of the federation.” They base their argument on several sections of the 1999 Constitution.
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Additionally, they want the Supreme Court to declare that the President cannot suspend a state’s House of Assembly. The governors believe the actions taken against Governor Fubara and others were unconstitutional and violated the 1999 Constitution.
They also called for the Supreme Court to nullify the appointment of the sole administrator who is currently governing Rivers State and questioned the constitutionality of the voice votes used by the National Assembly to support the President’s actions. The governors argue that the declaration of a state of emergency was improperly made and did not follow the constitutional procedures.
In their lawsuit, they are requesting several orders from the Supreme Court, including:
- Nullifying the state of emergency proclamation in Rivers State made by President Tinubu.
- Preventing the implementation of the illegal suspension of Governor Fubara and his deputy.
- Restraining the President from interfering with the constitutional duties of the governor and deputy governor.
- Stopping attempts to suspend any other governor in Nigeria.
The PDP Supreme Court suit over Fubara’s suspension. is expected to have significant implications for the powers of the president, especially regarding the The outcome will be closely watched as it may set a precedent for future interactions between state governors and the federal government.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how this situation will impact political dynamics in Nigeria.
