The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has firmly rejected the Presidency’s attempt to downplay Vice President Kashim Shettima’s statement that the President of Nigeria lacks the constitutional power to remove an elected governor.
The party criticized the clarification from Aso Rock as a politically convenient evasion of the truth and a dangerous endorsement of unconstitutional behavior.
According to a statement issued by the ADC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party emphasized that Shettima’s position is not only accurate but also constitutionally grounded. The Vice President was simply reaffirming the separation of powers and the limits placed on executive authority by the Nigerian Constitution. The ADC urged Shettima to maintain his stance and not succumb to the pressures of political spin.
The party drew historical comparisons to the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that even at the height of national insecurity during the Boko Haram insurgency, constitutional order was respected. Despite widespread violence and threats to national sovereignty in the North-East, President Jonathan did not attempt to unseat elected governors, demonstrating a respect for democratic norms that the current administration has failed to uphold.
The ADC described the unfolding situation in Rivers State as a clear case of executive overreach driven by partisan interests. It condemned the actions taken against the duly elected governor, stating that they are not only unconstitutional but also authoritarian. The party warned that this behavior threatens the foundations of Nigerian democracy and undermines the principle of federalism.
In recounting the context behind Shettima’s comments, the ADC pointed to his experience as governor of Borno State. At the time, attempts were made to remove him under similar circumstances, but senior government officials and legal authorities upheld the constitutional limits on presidential power. The current events in Rivers State are seen by the ADC as a replay of past tactics, only now with the added concern that the presidency appears willing to ignore legal boundaries.
The party argued that the breakdown of law and order cited as justification for interference in Rivers State pales in comparison to past crises like the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction and the Yobe school massacre. Despite those extreme situations, constitutional procedures were followed. The ADC insisted that if such restraint was possible under those dire conditions, there is no legitimate basis for suspending democratic order now.
The ADC concluded by demanding an immediate end to what it called an illegal and politically motivated takeover of Rivers State. The party stressed that Nigeria is not a monarchy, and no president has the legal authority to override the will of the people expressed through democratic elections. It warned that continued violations of the Constitution would have severe consequences for national unity and political stability.
