● Ex-labour leaders, civil groups warn of democratic collapse
● Lawmaker says NBA hypocritical on emergency, demands refund of N300m
● NBA slams political climate in Rivers, justifies conference relocation
● Rivers High Court denies ruling in Fubara’s favour, faults fake news report
One month after President Bola Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and imposed emergency rule in Rivers State, the move has continued to generate outrage, with former labour leaders describing the action as a “brazen desecration of democracy” and warning of creeping authoritarianism.
Groups loyal to former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have welcomed the decision, calling it timely and necessary. However, critics, including women’s groups, youth organisations, and civil society actors, have continued to denounce what they describe as a dangerous precedent and a violation of democratic norms.
President Bola Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State after escalating tensions between Governor Siminilayi Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, a faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike. The conflict reached alarming heights with an impeachment move against Governor Fubara and subsequent acts of sabotage against petroleum infrastructure, threatening widespread violence and unrest.
This emergency proclamation was ratified by the National Assembly two days later, in accordance with Section 305 of the Constitution.
One of the latest condemnations of the emergency rule came from the Forum of Former Labour Leaders in Rivers State, which described it as “a collapse of democracy”.
At a press conference held in Port Harcourt yesterday, the group, led by its chairman, Achese Igwe, and acting secretary, Bennett Kalio, rejected the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly .
Reading from a prepared statement, Igwe, a former National President of NUPENG, said: “Tomorrow (today), April 18, will mark one month since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a most undesirable and absurd pronouncement, suspended the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, his deputy, and members of the State Assembly, and imposed a Sole Administrator over the state. This brazen desecration of democracy and the rule of law is unacceptable.”
The group also faulted the National Assembly’s endorsement of the emergency rule via voice vote, instead of the constitutionally required two-thirds majority. It warned that the decision not only violates democratic procedures but risks opening the door to authoritarianism.
They accused the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), of systematically dismantling democratic structures in the state, including replacing elected local government councils with appointed sole administrators, and dissolving state boards and commissions.
“The selective imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State—while states facing worse insecurity are overlooked—is not only questionable but reveals the political undertones of this action,” Igwe added.
The forum called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) at both state and national levels to rise in defence of democracy and align with civil society and concerned citizens to resist what they called “an undemocratic precedent”.
In a strong plea to President Tinubu, the forum urged him to reverse the emergency rule and reinstate Governor Fubara, his deputy, and lawmakers in the interest of peace and national unity.
“The hardship faced by Rivers people under the emergency rule is mounting daily. We urge the NLC to either act decisively or step aside if it cannot defend the rights and future of Nigerian workers,” the statement concluded.
ALSO, a women-led organisation known as Simplified Queens, called on President Tinubu to reverse the emergency measures.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt, the group’s coordinator, Miss Iheoma Nwankwo, argued that the conditions cited for invoking Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution did not meet the threshold for a state of emergency.
She said the political crisis was largely the result of the actions of a few legislators and not a breakdown of law and order.
Nwankwo also criticised the activities of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, saying his suspension of all political appointees and dissolution of government boards had only worsened public apprehension.
“We urge the President not to allow the ambition of a few individuals to derail the democratic progress made in Rivers State,” Nwankwo said.
Director General of Simplified Queens, Progress Hart, noted that Rivers was no longer enjoying the growth being experienced in other Niger Delta states. He stressed that residents were displeased with the state of emergency and reiterated the group’s demand for Fubara’s reinstatement.
Also, a coalition of 35 civil society organisations in the state submitted a petition to the House of Representatives.
In a letter titled “Severe and Brazen Acts of Lawlessness and Impunity Being Carried Out by the Administrator of Rivers State,” the coalition accused Ibas of using federal power and security agencies to suppress democratic structures.
The coalition urged the National Assembly to investigate Ibas’s actions, direct security agencies to vacate the State Assembly complex, and ensure the full restoration of civil governance in the state.
They warned that failure to act could lead to public unrest and further undermine Nigeria’s democratic framework.
MEANWHILE, a member of the Rivers State House of Representatives, Mr Solomon Bob, yesterday strongly criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for what he described as hypocrisy, insincerity, and “misguided praetorian pretentions” following the body’s recent condemnation of the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
Responding to the NBA’s April 10, 2025, condemnation of the state of emergency, Bob defended the President’s actions, emphasising that the NBA lacks the constitutional authority and ethical standing to interpret or limit presidential powers.
“The NBA cannot circumscribe or amend the clear, untrammelled and discretionary powers granted the President by Section 305 of the Constitution,” Bob stated. He argued that the NBA lacks jurisdictional competence to assess measures deemed necessary by the President.
Bob further accused the NBA of failing as a democratic model, alleging it had degenerated into a platform for pursuing narrow interests rather than democratic ideals. He criticised NBA elections as predetermined coronations driven by regional and ethnic influences since the controversial 1992 conference.
He described the NBA’s stance on Rivers State as “arrogant and a gratuitous insult,” asserting that the association had ignored Governor Fubara’s alleged “crass lawlessness and wanton irresponsibility.” Mr Bob further alleged that the NBA’s condemnation was motivated by financial interests, pointing out a controversial N300 million transaction between the NBA and Fubara, initially concealed until publicly exposed by Port Harcourt authorities demanding repayment.
Bob also demanded the immediate return of the N300 million to Rivers State’s treasury, urging local authorities to take necessary measures if the NBA fails to comply.
FOR its part, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) defended its decision to move its 2025 Annual Conference from Rivers State to Enugu, citing the conduct of the state’s Administrator as a key reason for the relocation.
In a statement jointly signed by the chairmen of its eight branches in Rivers State, the NBA said the current political climate in the state no longer aligns with the values and expectations of the legal community.
However, the association did not respond to growing calls for the return of the N300 million allegedly received from the Rivers State Government for hosting the event in Port Harcourt.
The NBA also criticised what it described as the failure of the President’s promised peace-building efforts to restore democratic governance in the state, stating that such efforts had yet to materialise.
The statement read: “Rather than the peace-building efforts promised by the President, tension has steadily escalated in Rivers State. Arbitrariness and impunity are displayed daily, and democratic institutions have been demobilised in a Gestapo, military-style manner.
“Political appointments are being made by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, with military fiat, without approval being sought from the National Assembly or any known legal institution, for that matter.
“In all of these developments, there has been no sign or word from the so-called Peace or Reconciliation Committee supposedly set up to resolve the political impasse. It has gradually become clear that the leadership of our state has been hijacked to serve specific interests, without due regard for the peace and stability of the state, the economy of the state—or the nation, for that matter—and the well-being of the people of Rivers State.”
The NBA said its understanding was that the intent behind the President’s declaration of a state of emergency and the appointment of the Sole Administrator was to maintain peace and security in the state; to secure pipelines and related facilities from being blown up; and to prevent attacks that would sabotage the overall economic interest of the country.
However, it insisted that the Sole Administrator had overstepped his bounds by dissolving and reconstituting established democratic institutions in the state, such as boards, agencies, councils, commissions, and parastatals, among others.
IN a related development, the High Court of Rivers State refuted a news report claiming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara secured a court victory over FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu, with a Federal High Court allegedly ordering the Sole Administrator to vacate Government House.
The report, published by an online platform, mentioned Justice Boma Diepriye as the presiding judge who ruled that the appointment of a sole administrator was “illegal, null, and void.”
However, in a statement signed by Chief Registrar, David Ihua-Maduenyi, the High Court of Rivers State clarified that Justice Boma Diepiri, whose name was likely confused with the one mentioned in the report, is a judge of the Rivers State High Court, not the Federal High Court.
Furthermore, Justice Boma Diepiri is currently on Easter vacation, which commenced on April 14, 2025, and only the designated vacation judge is sitting during this period.
The court emphasised that no State High Court has issued any orders related to the subject matter of the news report.
Ihua-Maduenyi expressed disappointment that some bloggers and online news platforms prioritise sensationalism over professionalism, likely in a bid to generate web traffic.
The Rivers State Judiciary advised the public to seek clarification on any news reports concerning the courts and their officials before publication. The public was also urged to disregard the false and misleading publication.
THIS came as the Ad-Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives on Rivers State rescheduled its interactive session with the Sole Administrator.
In a statement signed by the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, the meeting, originally scheduled for yesterday, April 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., has been postponed.
However, the committee has yet to fix a new date for the session, stating that the public will be notified once a new date is confirmed.
According to the statement, the postponement followed a formal request from Ibas.
“The Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight has received a formal request from the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), to reschedule the interactive session initially set for today, April 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
“The Committee has acknowledged the request and is in the process of coordinating a new date for the session. In the spirit of transparent and effective oversight, the public will be promptly informed once the rescheduled date is confirmed,” the statement read.
