PDP Governors Condemn Rivers State Emergency Declaration, Accuse President of Bias

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) has strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, accusing him of enabling the political crisis by ignoring the role played by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. In a statement released by the Forum’s chairman, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, the PDP governors expressed solidarity with Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and criticized the President’s actions as a threat to democracy.

The Forum described the President’s silence on Wike’s involvement as “golden and enabling,” implying that Wike’s actions were carried out with presidential backing. According to the governors, Wike has become a law unto himself, emboldened by what they claim is a script orchestrated by the Presidency.

The statement denounced the emergency declaration as a “premeditated attack” not only on Rivers State but also on the PDP and other opposition parties. The governors warned that such actions would worsen the nation’s crises, heighten security threats, weaken the economy, and undermine national unity.

The PDPGF aligned itself with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which also expressed concern over the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The NBA, in a statement signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, called the President’s action unconstitutional, stating that a state of emergency is an extraordinary measure that must be invoked strictly within constitutional limits. The association asserted that removing elected officials under the guise of emergency rule undermines democratic governance and the rule of law.

Furthermore, the PDP governors vowed to seek judicial interpretation of Section 305 (3) of the Nigerian Constitution, which outlines the conditions under which a state of emergency can be declared. They described the President’s move as authoritarian and unacceptable, promising to challenge the decision through legal means.

The Forum called on President Tinubu to reconsider his actions, urging him to listen to “wise counsel” and acknowledge what they described as a “grievous mistake” made in haste. They demanded the immediate reversal of the state of emergency, warning that failure to do so could further destabilize the country.

The PDP governors reaffirmed their philosophy of “Touch One, Touch All,” emphasizing unity in the face of what they see as political persecution. They pledged continued support for Governor Fubara and the people of Rivers State during this difficult time.