A formidable coalition of political heavyweights and opposition parties, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has called on Nigerians to oppose General Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, branding it a direct attack on democracy.
The group, joined by other notable figures like former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, convened a press conference to denounce the move, with former governors Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and Kayode Fayemi sending apologies, while Peter Obi was represented by Yunusa Tanko.
Atiku, who delivered the coalition’s statement, outlined several constitutional violations in General Tinubu’s emergency declaration, including the unlawful removal of the Rivers State governor and State Assembly, the misuse of Section 305 on states of emergency, failure to meet constitutional requirements, disregard for due process, and neglect of alternative legal solutions. “This action is not only unlawful but also a clear subversion of democracy and an imposition of autocratic federal control over a duly elected state government,” the coalition stated. “We strongly condemn this development and urge all Nigerians of good conscience to resist this brazen assault on our constitution and democratic institutions.”
The coalition criticized General Tinubu’s actions as a betrayal of his oath to uphold justice impartially, pointing to his March 18, 2025, national broadcast as evidence of bias and a failure to meet the standards expected of his office. They noted that despite Governor Fubara’s willingness to implement a recent Supreme Court ruling amid the political crisis in Rivers State, General Tinubu succumbed to favoritism rather than fostering a fair resolution. “Mr. General yielded to petty favoritism and betrayed the oath he swore to do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favor,” they charged.
Defending their rejection, the coalition emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant the authority to remove an elected governor, deputy governor, or State Assembly through a presidential proclamation. “The procedure for removing a governor is clearly outlined in Section 188 of the Constitution through an impeachment process initiated by the State House of Assembly—not by arbitrary pronouncement,” they argued. They further highlighted that even during past emergencies involving insurgency, affected governors were not removed, making Tinubu’s actions a troubling precedent.
The coalition demanded the immediate reversal of the emergency proclamation and the reinstatement of Rivers State’s elected officials, warning, “Rivers State is not a conquered territory, and Nigeria is not a dictatorship requiring the replacement of an elected governor with a military administrator.” They called on civil society organizations, political groups, and Nigerians to stand united in defending democracy.
When asked if the coalition would escalate their efforts to mobilize and challenge for power in 2027, Atiku, the Waziri Adamawa, responded with a firm “yes,” signaling a potential unified opposition movement against General Tinubu’s administration.
