Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, calling the move “unconstitutional, reckless, and a dangerous assault on democracy.” Â
In a statement on Thursday, Obi accused the president of plunging Nigeria into “lawlessness” and undermining 26 years of democratic progress.
Obi described Tinubu’s decision as a “degrading backdoor imposition of martial rule” on Rivers State, warning that it sets a perilous precedent.
“The declaration of a state of emergency is not just reckless—it is a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten the government’s grip on power at all costs,” he said, emphasizing that such actions erode the rule of law.
Citing Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines conditions for declaring a state of emergency, Obi argued that the president’s interpretation was “biased” and politically motivated.
“A state of emergency does not mean an elected governor can be removed unilaterally. This decision does not align with democratic norms or good governance,” he stated, alleging that the move served “specific interests” over the welfare of Rivers residents.
The former presidential candidate warned that Tinubu’s “unconstitutional overreach” threatens the separation of powers and risks normalizing impunity. “If left unchecked, it could foster a culture of lawlessness and push us toward anarchy,” Obi said, referencing Nigeria’s existing challenges with electoral malpractice and governance.
He condemned the timing of the decision, insisting that the political situation in Rivers State “does not justify such an extreme measure.”
Obi urged the National Assembly and stakeholders to intervene, declaring, “I appeal to them not to allow this to stand, as it only deepens the culture of impunity and brigandage already threatening our democracy.” He framed the crisis as a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s institutions to uphold constitutional order.
