The Senate and House of Representatives have delivered a devastating blow to Nigeria’s democracy by endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s unconstitutional declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.
Their approval of the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire state legislature is nothing short of a legislative coup—one that shatters constitutional order, undermines federalism, and sets a perilous precedent for political tyranny in Nigeria.
A Dangerous Subversion of Constitutional Authority
The Nigerian Constitution is clear: emergency rule should only be declared under extreme conditions such as war, natural disasters, or an absolute breakdown of law and order.
None of these conditions exist in Rivers State.
What is unfolding is a politically motivated assault, orchestrated to neutralize a governor who refuses to bow to external control.
By rubber-stamping this power grab, the National Assembly has abandoned its role as a guardian of democracy and instead enabled executive overreach.
This decision shreds the fundamental principles of federalism.
State governments exist as autonomous entities within Nigeria’s structure.
By allowing the President to oust a democratically elected governor, the Senate and House have signaled that no state government is safe from arbitrary removal.
If this is allowed to stand, what stops the federal government from dismantling any opposition-led state at will?
The Consequences of Legislative Betrayal
- A Precedent for Autocratic Rule:
By legitimizing the unconstitutional removal of Rivers State’s elected government, the National Assembly has effectively declared that democracy can be suspended at the whim of the executive.
This emboldens future leaders to sideline elections and impose direct rule whenever they face political resistance.
- Erosion of Judicial and Legislative Integrity:
The move disregards the judiciary’s authority to adjudicate political disputes.
Instead of allowing due process, lawmakers have handed absolute power to the President, signaling that legality and constitutionalism are now subject to executive discretion.
- Instability Across the Federation:
This decision opens the floodgates for political crises in other states.
If a sitting governor can be arbitrarily removed under the guise of emergency rule, opposition-led states across Nigeria must now brace for similar takeovers.
The federal government has been given a blank check to interfere in state affairs whenever convenient.
- A Blow to Investor Confidence:
Investors, both local and foreign, thrive in environments where political stability and legal predictability exist.
The arbitrary dismantling of an elected government creates uncertainty, discouraging investments in Rivers State and beyond.
Who will invest in a country where governors can be ousted without cause?
- The Normalization of Tyranny:
Perhaps the most dangerous consequence is that Nigerians may become desensitized to such acts of political aggression.
If this move goes unchallenged, it will only be a matter of time before opposition voices, civil society groups, and even ordinary citizens find themselves at the mercy of an increasingly repressive state.
The National Assembly Must Reverse Course
The House of Representatives and Senate must reconsider their position before it is too late.
This is not just about Rivers State; it is about the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
Every lawmaker who voted in favour of this decision must understand the weight of their betrayal.
History will not be kind to those who stood by while democracy was dismantled.
If Nigeria’s democracy is to survive, every citizen, civil society group, and democratic institution must resist this dangerous precedent.
Today, it is Rivers State.
Tomorrow, it could be any state.
If unchecked, this reckless abuse of power will consume the very foundation of our nation’s democracy.
