Eze Condemns Tinubu Over Rivers Emergency Rule, Vows Legal Action
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has once again condemned the imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as an unconstitutional act and a clear demonstration of dictatorial tendencies. Eze maintained that the decision, announced on March 18, 2025, constitutes a direct affront to Nigeria’s democratic framework and must be reversed immediately.
Eze criticized Tinubu’s action as a calculated political move designed to suppress Governor Siminalayi Fubara. He accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of instigating the crisis through his loyalists in the Rivers State House of Assembly. According to Eze, the imposition of emergency rule was premeditated, unconstitutional, and a blatant subversion of democracy.
He argued that the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the state legislature went beyond the constitutional powers of the president, emphasizing that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which Tinubu cited, does not grant him authority to remove elected officials. Eze demanded an immediate reversal of the suspension, stating that any attempt to sideline elected leaders outside the provisions of Section 188 of the Constitution amounts to political subterfuge and a betrayal of democratic principles.
In a statement made available to the media, the APC chieftain warned that Tinubu’s decision was an unprecedented assault on democratic institutions, painting the president as a self-styled autocrat determined to consolidate power ahead of the 2027 elections. He described the development as a dent on Nigeria’s global democratic image.
Eze further revealed that he plans to take legal action against Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the newly installed Rivers State Administrator if democratic governance is not restored within seven days. He decried Tinubu’s actions as contradictory to his long-professed commitment to democracy, accusing him of trampling on the rights of Rivers voters who elected Fubara in 2023.
According to Eze, the swiftness with which the state of emergency was declared suggests a premeditated plot between Tinubu and Wike to exploit the state’s resources. He described the president’s national broadcast on March 18 as heavily biased, noting that Wike, a key player in the crisis, was conspicuously omitted from Tinubu’s statement.
“Tinubu’s broadcast laid the entire blame on Governor Fubara, simply because he refused to be Wike’s puppet. When impeachment failed, they sought another means to remove him. Then suddenly, reports surfaced of attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta. Nigerians can now see through this ploy,” Eze asserted.
Eze also criticized the federal government’s decision to release Rivers State’s withheld monthly allocation to the Sole Administrator, describing it as a violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling that funds should only be disbursed under an appropriation law. He accused Tinubu of undermining judicial authority and setting a dangerous precedent.
Expressing disappointment with the National Assembly, Eze faulted lawmakers for failing to challenge the president’s unconstitutional actions. He noted that the Senate did not secure the required two-thirds majority—73 out of 109 senators—to approve the emergency rule. Former House Speaker and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal, confirmed that the necessary votes were not reached, making Tinubu’s action illegal.
Despite this, Eze commended Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Seriake Dickson, and Tambuwal for resisting what he called a “broad-day robbery on democracy.” He also praised opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Falana, South-South governors, PDP governors, PANDEF, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and other civil society groups for speaking out against Tinubu’s decision.
Quoting former President Goodluck Jonathan, Eze echoed concerns that the president’s actions represented “a clear abuse of office, power, and privilege” across all three arms of government. Similarly, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka criticized the move as a betrayal of federalism, warning that it erodes Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
Despite being a member of the APC, Eze insisted that he would not support undemocratic actions by the party, regardless of the personalities involved. He commended Governor Fubara for his resilience in the face of political adversity and urged the people of Rivers State to remain calm while legal avenues are pursued to rectify what he termed a constitutional aberration and a rape of democracy.
