The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly condemned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as an “unconstitutional power grab” designed to undermine democracy in the region.
In a press statement released on Tuesday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the opposition party rejected what it termed an “outright violation” of the 1999 Constitution. The party further accused the Tinubu-led administration of attempting to impose an unelected government on the people of Rivers State through unconstitutional means.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and indeed, Nigerians listened with dismay to the national broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in which the President, in utter violation of the 1999 Constitution, pronounced an imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State,” the statement read.
PDP argued that the move was not only undemocratic but also a clear attempt to stifle opposition and manipulate political structures in the oil-rich state. The party questioned the justification for the emergency declaration, insisting that there were no legal or security grounds warranting such an extreme measure.
Furthermore, PDP called on democratic institutions, civil society organizations, and the international community to resist what it termed an “executive overreach” and an assault on Nigeria’s democratic system. The party warned that allowing such actions to go unchecked could set a dangerous precedent for governance in the country.
While the federal government is yet to provide a detailed legal basis for the emergency declaration, reactions from political stakeholders and civil rights groups continue to pour in, with many expressing concerns over the implications of the decision.
The situation in Rivers State remains tense as political actors and citizens await further developments following the controversial proclamation.
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