…demands an apology from President Tinubu.
Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
Group, under the umbrella of the Civil Society Situation Room Southeast Zone, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reverse the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
The group emphasizes that there is neither constitutional nor moral justification for this declaration.
In a media briefing on Monday, attended by representatives from seventeen civil society organizations in Abakaliki, Ajah Chima Oliver, the Southeast Representative of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, stated that the appointment of a sole administrator during a democratic era is illegal.
Stressing that Rivers State must not be sacrificed for political expediency.
The statement read in part:
“We, the members and partners of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room (Situation Room) in the Southeast Zone, unequivocally reject and condemn, in the strongest terms, the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a nationwide broadcast on March 18, 2025.
“These actions constitute an affront to constitutional democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.
“We state that the President has acted beyond his constitutional mandate, as this action violates the sovereignty of the state. The arbitrary removal of elected officials in Rivers State undermines the principles of federalism and sets a dangerous precedent where the federal government can unlawfully take control of any state under flimsy pretexts. We, therefore, reject this reckless and unlawful suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions in Rivers State.
“The people of Rivers State exercised their constitutional right by electing their leaders. The President’s action is a blatant disregard for their democratic choice and disenfranchises the citizens by imposing a federally appointed administrator over a duly elected government.
“The appointment of a sole administrator in a democratic era is illegal, unconstitutional, and unacceptable. There is no provision in the Nigerian Constitution that empowers the President to appoint an unelected individual to govern a federating unit.
“If this illegal declaration is allowed to stand, it could serve as a template for future undemocratic actions by the federal government against other states and embolden leaders to subvert democracy for personal or political gain. This endangers the progress Nigeria has made in strengthening democratic governance since 1999 and moves the country closer to authoritarian rule.
“Based on these observations, we demand the following: immediate Reversal of the State of Emergency in Rivers State. There is no constitutional or moral justification for this declaration; the President must revoke it immediately and restore constitutional order in the State by reinstating all elected officials.
“A public apology to the people of Rivers State and Nigeria. The President must publicly apologize for violating their democratic rights and unlawfully usurping the powers of their elected leaders.
“Protection of Democratic Institutions. The judiciary and relevant stakeholders must act to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring that the President’s unconstitutional actions are condemned and that no such overreach is permitted in the future.
“We call on all Nigerians, other civil society groups, political parties, ethnic nationalities, democratic institutions, and the international community to reject this illegal suspension of elected officials and stand in defence of constitutional democracy in Nigeria. If this illegality is allowed to stand, it will set a precedent for dictatorship and undermine Nigeria’s democratic stability.
“Democracy must be defended. Rivers State must not be sacrificed for political expediency.”
The media briefing was attended by members of the Civil Society Situation Room Southeast Zone from Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra, and other states.