Declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State could be grounds for impeachment, according to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), which has called on the National Assembly to examine the decision.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by Muhammad Ishaq, its National Publicity Secretary, the PRP denounced the President’s decision as illegal.
According to reports, the party maintained that Tinubu’s acts are a grave breach of the 1999 Constitution, which forms the basis of the country’s government, and that they also threaten Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and every member of the Rivers State House of Assembly were suspended by the president, which the party denounced as an abuse of executive power that should not be allowed to continue.
The PRP claims that the president’s actions represent a risky and unlawful abuse of his administrative authority. A state of emergency may be declared by the president of Nigeria under certain, strict circumstances, as stated in Section 305 of the Constitution. But this clause doesn’t give you the power to arbitrarily suspend or dismiss elected state officials,” the statement said.
Additionally, the party underlined that suspending state officials erodes Nigeria’s laboriously cultivated democracy and rule of law.
It contended that Rivers State’s political unrest did not escalate to the point of a constitutional emergency, which would have justified the extreme action.
In addition to demanding that President Tinubu’s decision be reviewed by lawmakers, PRP asked that Governor Fubara be reinstated immediately. It called on legislators to look into whether the president’s actions merit impeachment.
“We express serious concern that the political tensions and purported problems that led to this declaration do not amount to a constitutional crisis that would call for the suspension of a state government as a whole,” the statement went on.
The party emphasized that constitutional processes like the courts, not executive decree, should be used to settle internal state conflicts. The National Assembly must confirm any declaration of emergency, it was again reminded.
PRP cautioned that dismissing a democratically elected official using emergency powers creates a risky precedent that could result in further executive branch abuses in the future.
Respecting the electorate’s choice is a fundamental democratic principle, and no citizen should have to live in constant fear of being arbitrarily removed by the presidency, it was reaffirmed.
Urge the National Assembly to Act
A thorough examination of the President’s actions is demanded by the PRP in order to guarantee accountability and constitutional compliance.
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Furthermore, it called on the National Assembly to protect democracy by looking into and possibly lifting the suspension.
It is necessary to conduct a thorough examination of the President’s alleged declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State in order to ascertain whether or not it violates any current constitutional provisions and if it constitutes an impeachable offense.
The party said, “If so, proceedings should be started accordingly.”
Ultimately, the PRP reiterated its dedication to preserving Nigerian democracy and adhering to the Constitution. Denouncing what it described as an executive overreach, it called on all citizens, civil society organizations, and the international community to support the return of democratic governance to Rivers State.
“Our dedication to preserving Nigeria’s democracy and upholding the Constitution remains unwavering. We urge the international community, civil society organizations, and all citizens to condemn this executive overreach,” the PRP said in its conclusion.
