PDP Governors Challenge Tinubu’s Emergency Declaration in Rivers State at Supreme Court
The Federal Government has confirmed receipt of a lawsuit filed by 11 state governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contesting President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. A source within the Federal Ministry of Justice, speaking anonymously on Wednesday, verified that the suit was formally served to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi.
FCNN confirms that the governors—representing Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa States—filed the legal challenge at the Supreme Court (case number SC/CV/329/2025) on Tuesday. They argue that President Tinubu overstepped constitutional boundaries by suspending Rivers State’s elected government, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly, and replacing them with retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator for six months.
Central to the suit are constitutional questions about the President’s authority to disrupt democratically elected state structures. The governors seek clarity on whether Tinubu can lawfully suspend a governor, deputy governor, or legislature under emergency powers (Sections 1(2), 5(2), 176, 180, 188, and 305 of the 1999 Constitution). They contend that such actions undermine constitutional federalism and violate safeguards protecting state autonomy.
The plaintiffs also challenge the implied threat of suspending elected officials via emergency rule, arguing it breaches Sections 1(2), 4(6), 5(2), and 11(2–3) of the constitution. They urge the court to determine if replacing elected leaders with an unelected administrator is legally permissible.
- With the AGF’s office now formally notified, the Federal Government is preparing its defense .
