A coalition of concerned leaders and political stakeholders in Nigeria has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it “unconstitutional” and “a clear subversion of democracy.”

The group, which includes Atiku Abubakar, Nasir el-Rufai, representative of Peter Obi and other prominent politicians, held a joint press conference on Thursday to denounce the president’s actions.

According to the group, the president’s declaration is a blatant power grab, driven by a desire to control the state rather than address any legitimate security concerns.

They point out that the Nigerian constitution does not empower the president to remove an elected governor, deputy governor, or state assembly under any circumstances.

The group also highlighted several constitutional violations, including the misuse of Section 305, which allows the president to declare a state of emergency only in extreme cases.

They argued that the conditions for declaring a state of emergency, such as war or external aggression, breakdown of public order and safety, or natural disasters, do not exist in Rivers State.

“A Brazen Assault on Democracy”

The coalition is calling on President Tinubu to immediately revoke the proclamation and reinstate the elected governor, deputy governor, and state assembly of Rivers State. They also urged the National Assembly to reject the president’s action and the judiciary to strike down the proclamation.