ADC Condemns Tinubu’s Handling of Rivers State Emergency Rule

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the subsequent lifting of the emergency rule in Rivers State, describing the actions as “whimsically autocratic” and a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

In a statement on Thursday, ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said the president’s directive for Governor Fubara and Rivers State Assembly members to resume work was self-serving and unconstitutional. The party expressed alarm over what it called a blatant manipulation of constitutional provisions to serve narrow political interests.

“On Wednesday, September 17, Nigerians witnessed a curious spectacle: the President directing the Governor, Deputy Governor, and Assembly members in Rivers State to resume duties after a six-month suspension. This action arrogates powers to the presidency that are not provided for under the constitution,” the statement read.

The ADC argued that governors and legislators derive their legitimacy from the electorate, not from Aso Rock, emphasizing that only a competent court can remove or restrain elected officials. The party described Tinubu’s actions as political brinkmanship disguised as statesmanship and warned that the Rivers State experience could serve as a warning to other state governments.

The opposition party also dismissed claims that Tinubu cut short a vacation in France to attend to national security issues, insisting that his return was solely to oversee the reinstatement of Fubara.

“Section 305 of our Constitution, which provides for emergency powers, is intended for genuine public danger such as natural disasters or insurrections, not for settling political scores,” the ADC noted.

The party called on the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, to take a firm stance on what it described as the dangerous precedent of abuse and misapplication of constitutional powers by the presidency.