The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and 27 lawmakers for six months. In a statement on March 18, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) emphasized that the President lacks the constitutional authority to remove an elected governor under emergency rule, calling it an “unconstitutional encroachment on democratic governance and state autonomy.”
The NBA urged the National Assembly to reject any attempt to ratify the removal of Rivers State’s elected officials, stressing that emergency declarations must be based on constitutional grounds, not political expediency. The association warned that suspending elected officials sets a dangerous precedent that undermines democracy and could be exploited to unseat governments in the future.
The NBA called for all actions in Rivers State to align with constitutional provisions and democratic norms. It also urged stakeholders, including the judiciary, civil society, and the international community, to monitor the situation closely to prevent abuse of power and unconstitutional governance.
