A former Senate President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Celebration, Adolphus Wabara, on Sunday, faulted President Bola Tinubu’s choice to claim a atmosphere of catastrophe in Rivers Climate.
In a strongly worded remark on Sunday, Wabara insisted that Tinubu’s movements violated the elemental rules of Nigeria’s Charter and referred to as for instant reversal.
The improvement comes because the Socio-Financial Rights and Duty Challenge filed a lawsuit in opposition to Tinubu, difficult the legality of his choice.
The President, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, slammed the atmosphere of catastrophe in Rivers Climate and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu and participants of the atmosphere Space of Meeting.
He additionally appointed a former Eminent of Naval Group of workers, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), as sole administrator for an preliminary length of six months.
The proclamation used to be ratified via the Nationwide Meeting on Thursday.
Protecting his motion, the President insisted that the atmosphere used to be drifting towards anarchy because of the frosty dating between Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led Meeting participants dependable to the previous governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Length, Nyesom Wike.
Many Nigerians, together with the opposition participants and PDP governors, former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, condemned what they termed an unconstitutional form in Rivers.
Wabara, in a remark he issued on Sunday, described the verdict as unconstitutional and a grave attack on liberty.
“This motion is a improper violation of Nigeria’s Charter, the foundational criminal record that promises the rights of Nigerians to take part within the democratic procedure, and an immediate attack on liberty and the rule of thumb of regulation.
“It’s an assault at the very essence of our Republic. It’s an motion that merits the most powerful condemnation and corrective motion via all well-meaning Nigerians, the judiciary, civil community, and the global population.
“In my capability because the Chairman of BoT of our superb birthday party, the PDP; and a former Senate President, I, Senator Adolphus Wabara, name for the reversal of this attack on our liberty.
“It’s sad and disheartening that Mr President ignored my earlier advice to ignore those calling for emergency rule in Rivers State,” he stated.
He stated the proclamation reminded Nigerians of the month of army dictatorship within the nation.
“President Bola Tinubu’s motion handiest reminded Nigerians of the better-forgotten month of army dictatorship.
“The family of Rivers Climate exercised their democratic rights in electing their leaders, together with the governor, deputy governor, and participants of the Space of Meeting.
“These leaders were not appointed by the President or any other authority, but were chosen by the people to represent their interests,” he added.
Wabara stated the President may just handiest claim a atmosphere of catastrophe in explicit cases similar to warfare, rise up, or alternative statuses that threatened the integrity of the folk, including that the status in Rivers didn’t meet the constitutional standards for this kind of declaration.
“The charter does now not empower the President to unilaterally take away or change elected officers.
“Such movements quantity to an unconstitutional usurpation of energy and a elementary breach of Nigeria’s federal construction.
“The President’s choice to interchange democratically elected officers with an un-elected sole administrator is not anything snip of a democratic travesty.
“It is a stark reminder of the fragility of our democratic institutions and the persistence of authoritarian tendencies by the President,” he added.
He condemned the Nationwide Meeting, which he suggested should now not be unmistakable as a rubber stamp.
“They should engage Mr President and find a way to adopt a Doctrine of Necessity to salvage the situation and must defend our democracy and protect the rule of law,” he stated.
In a swimsuit introduced via Yirabari Israel Nulog; Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal; and Gracious Eyoh–Sifumbukho, who’re participants of its Volunteers’ Attorneys Community in Rivers Climate, SERAP challenged the legality of Tinubu’s choice.
Joined within the swimsuit as defendants are the Legal professional Basic of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and the only real administrator, Vice Admiral Ibas (retd.).
Within the swimsuit quantity FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2025 filed ultimate Friday on the Federal Top Court docket, Abuja, the plaintiffs are in search of: “an order setting aside the suspension of the democratically elected officials in Rivers State by President Tinubu while proclaiming a state of emergency in the state.”
The plaintiffs additionally search “an order setting aside the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd) as the sole administrator of Rivers State.”
Within the swimsuit, the plaintiffs argued that: “The rule of law would be a mere figure of speech if the people’s right to participation can be arbitrarily suspended or violated.”
It used to be filed to the behalf of the plaintiffs via their attorney, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).
“The suspension is entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s obligations under article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and articles 2, 3 and 4 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance.”
“The combined provisions of sections 1(2), 14(1)(c), 176(1) (2) and 305(1) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution create a delicate balance of rights and responsibilities, balancing the exercise of the President’s power against the people’s right to participation in their own government, and the notion of respect for the rule of law,” the swimsuit learn.
Refuse future has been mounted for the listening to.