The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has firmly rejected President Bola Tinubu’s actions in Rivers State, warning him against interfering with the autonomy of state governments. The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bola Abdullahi, emphasised that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant the president the power to appoint or dismiss elected governors.
The controversy arose following the lifting of the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, imposed by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025. In a speech marking the end of the emergency, President Tinubu declared, “The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume their duties today, September 18, 2025.”
However, ADC has criticised the President for what they described as a “political masquerade disguised as leadership.” The party condemned Tinubu’s decision to not only impose but also reverse the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State, accusing him of undermining democratic principles.
The statement continued, “What we witnessed on September 17 was a political charade. President Tinubu has arrogantly assumed the authority to remove and reinstate governors, something that no constitution or democratic practice supports. This is not leadership—it is a blatant manipulation of the system for narrow political gain.”
ADC questioned the legality of the state of emergency in Rivers, asserting that it was a political manoeuvre rather than a response to any legitimate threat to public order. “The so-called state of emergency in Rivers State was an invention of political operatives who used the guise of governance to silence political opposition,” said the statement.
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The party also noted that the people of Rivers State had been left without their duly elected leaders for six months, not due to a court order, but as a result of presidential intervention. ADC warned that this created a dangerous precedent for future governance in Nigeria. “Governors and legislators in a democracy derive their legitimacy from the people, not from the whims of the President. The President is not a headmaster, and governors are not his pupils to be dismissed and reinstated at his discretion.”
ADC further criticised the President’s claim that the situation in Rivers State had worsened the security situation in the country. They accused him of using security issues as a cover for his personal political interests, calling the narrative “laughable.”
The statement concluded by urging the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, to take a firm stand on the matter. “This is a constitutional crisis in the making, and if left unchecked, it will set a dangerous precedent that will erode the integrity of our democracy. The judiciary must act decisively to ensure that the rule of law prevails.”
