PDP Governors Forum Demands Immediate Reversal Of State Of Emergency In Rivers

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), demanded the immediate reversal of the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and the members of the House of Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This was as the PDPGF the silence of President Tinubu on the active role played by his Minister of the FCT in the Rivers impasse is golden and enabling, stressing that Wike has become a law unto himself because he was playing out the President’s script, saying; “Now we know. This is totally unstatemanly, biased, and divisive”.

The PDP Governors therefore called upon President Tinubu to listen to wise counsel and the voice of reason, before it is too late, as well as accept that he made grievous mistakes and acted in haste in the declaration of the State of Emergency in the Oil rich State.

The Forum in a statement by its Chairman, who is also the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, noted with grave concern and utter misgiving the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers State by President Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast of Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, describing it as atrocious and retrograde decision.

Governor Mohammed said that members of the PDP Governors Forum stand in solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and the good people of Rivers State at this very difficult and trying moment of the state’s political history.

The PDPGF said; “There is no other time that our philosophy of “TOUCH ONE TOUCH ALL” is more apt than now. He who goes to the court of equity must go with clean hands.

“We state categorically that this unwarranted but premeditated attack on Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties is today, the greatest threat to democracy in our dear country, Nigeria and it is an ill wind that will blow no one any good.

“It is a dangerous course of action that will not only endanger our hard won democracy, but will exacerbate the crises in the nation, deepen mistrust, elevate security threats, destroy the economy, and our national cohesion and stability.

“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in its response signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has already expressed grave concern about the purported suspension by the President of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor, and the Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“The NBA affirmed their commitment to upholding the Constitution, defending democratic governance, and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in Nigeria. In their words, “A state of emergency is an extraordinary measure that must be invoked strictly within constitutional limits. The removal of elected officials under the pretext of emergency rule is unconstitutional and unacceptable.

“The Forum completely aligns itself with the NBA and promises to subject Section 305 (3) of the Constitution to judicial interpretation. This authoritarian shenanigan is unacceptable and cannot stand,” Mohammed stressed.