Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have decided to take legal action against President Bola Tinubu over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
They have instructed their legal teams to file a case at the Supreme Court, arguing that the move is unconstitutional, News About Nigeria reports.
The lawsuit, expected to be submitted this week, also includes the National Assembly as a defendant.
The emergency rule was declared by the president on March 18 due to ongoing political instability and damage to oil installations in the state.
As part of the decision, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all state lawmakers were suspended for six months.
In their place, Tinubu appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator of Rivers.
The National Assembly swiftly approved the president’s decision, but PDP governors strongly opposed it.
At a virtual meeting on Wednesday, governors from Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara resolved to challenge the matter in court.
The governors argued that the president does not have the authority to suspend an elected governor, deputy governor, or the state assembly under the pretext of emergency rule.
They are asking the Supreme Court to declare the suspensions illegal and overturn them.
Additionally, they are challenging the appointment of a sole administrator, insisting that it violates constitutional provisions.
The plaintiffs also claimed that the process of declaring the emergency rule did not follow the necessary constitutional steps.
They argued that the approval by the National Assembly, which was done through a voice vote, is invalid because the law requires a two-thirds majority vote from both legislative chambers.
As part of their demands, the governors are requesting the court to nullify the emergency declaration, prevent the implementation of the suspensions, and restrain the president from taking similar actions against any other governor in the future.
