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Rivers Emergency Rule: FG Yet To Receive Suit From PDP Governors – Details

Published

6 days ago

Mar 31, 2025.

Rivers Emergency Rule: FG Yet To Receive Suit From PDP Governors

Rivers Emergency Rule: FG Yet To Receive Suit From PDP Governors.
A PDP governor’s aide suggests the lawsuit may not have been filed.
Bayelsa’s governor calls for reconciliation instead of legal action.

Nearly a week after seven opposition governors reportedly filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergency declaration in Rivers State, the Federal Government has confirmed it has yet to be formally served with the suit.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the lawsuit, allegedly initiated by governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeks to nullify Tinubu’s March 18, 2025, emergency rule declaration in Rivers. It also demands the reversal of the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly.

The plaintiffs include the governors of Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara States. Through their attorneys general, they are urging the Supreme Court to declare that the President lacks the constitutional power to suspend an elected governor and deputy under the guise of an emergency proclamation.

President Tinubu and the National Assembly are named as defendants in the suit. However, a senior counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice, speaking anonymously, revealed that the ministry is still waiting to receive the legal documents.

“Here at the Ministry of Justice, we have yet to be served with the suit. We are prepared to respond, but we are still waiting,” the official stated.

Amid the uncertainty, a Chief Press Secretary to one of the PDP governors in the South-West suggested that no such case may have been filed at all.

“Based on my discussion with our attorney general, the case has not been filed. The report was sponsored for a reason,” the CPS told Punch.

Despite widespread reports, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, has not confirmed any legal action. Instead, he has urged the Federal Government to rescind the emergency rule and reinstate Fubara while facilitating reconciliation efforts between the governor and state lawmakers.

Rivers Emergency Rule: FG Yet To Receive Suit From PDP Governors

Fresh Controversy in Rivers

Meanwhile, fresh allegations have surfaced in Rivers State, with former Head of Civil Service, Dr. George Nweke, accusing Governor Fubara of orchestrating the October 2023 bombing of the state House of Assembly.

At a press conference, Nweke—who recently resigned—claimed he witnessed a bag of money being handed to Edison Ehie, Fubara’s Chief of Staff, to carry out the attack.

“I was there when a bag of money was given to Edison for that operation, though I don’t know the amount inside,” Nweke alleged.

“I challenge him to an open confrontation, and I will provide more details.”

Governor Fubara dismissed the claims as political manipulation. In response, Maximus Nwafor, leader of the “Concerned Omuma Stakeholders,” condemned Nweke’s remarks, alleging he was frustrated after failing to secure financial assistance from the governor.

“There is no truth in his claims. He was not even part of the state’s inner caucus,” Nwafor stated.

As tensions escalate, Rivers State remains at the center of a deepening political crisis.