The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, attributing the political crisis to the actions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The party asserts that the governor’s conduct necessitated federal intervention to restore order and governance in the state.
According to APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, Governor Fubara’s alleged demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly and subsequent governance without legislative oversight represent significant breaches of constitutional order. Morka stated, “When he brazenly demolished the Rivers State House of Assembly, Fubara destroyed the very foundation of democracy in the state.” He further contended that the governor’s unilateral expenditure of state funds without legislative appropriation stripped him of constitutional protections associated with his office.
President Tinubu’s declaration of the state of emergency, announced during a nationwide broadcast, cited prolonged political turmoil, constitutional breaches, and rising insecurity in Rivers State as justifications for the measure. The president emphasized that previous efforts to mediate the crisis had been unsuccessful, leading to the necessity of federal intervention to maintain law and order.
In response, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the emergency declaration, describing it as an unconstitutional attempt to override the will of Rivers State residents. The PDP characterized the suspension of Governor Fubara and the appointment of an unelected administrator as an attack on democracy and a violation of the 1999 Constitution.
This development has sparked widespread debate regarding the balance of power between federal and state authorities, the sanctity of democratic institutions, and the appropriate mechanisms for resolving political disputes within Nigeria’s constitutional framework.
