the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has said it will take legal action against the Federal Government.

President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; as well as members of the state House of Assembly for six months.

The President then appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator of the state.

The PDP governors contended that the President’s actions were unconstitutional and threatened Nigeria’s democratic principles.

Seeking legal intervention, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, criticised the declaration of a state of emergency in the state, adding that the party’s governors’ forum would challenge the matter in court.

Makinde, in his bi-weekly newsletter— The Business of Governance (Issue 110)— noted that the suspension of democracy in the state was an illegal act that all well-meaning Nigerians must condemn.

The governor said, “I am glad that our great party, the PDP, is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership.

The PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Tinubu in a court of competent jurisdiction.

We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.

Seeking legal intervention, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, criticised the declaration of a state of emergency in the state, adding that the party’s governors’ forum would challenge the matter in court.

Makinde, in his bi-weekly newsletter— The Business of Governance (Issue 110)— noted that the suspension of democracy in the state was an illegal act that all well-meaning Nigerians must condemn.

The governor said, “I am glad that our great party, the PDP, is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership. The PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Tinubu in a court of competent jurisdiction.

We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.

“I stand today to say that the declaration of the state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the presidency is an illegality that right-thinking members of society must oppose.

“Our democratic tenets must never be trifled with, no matter our personal feelings and loyalties. This is the time to take a stand for fairness, equity and justice.”

Makinde urged Nigerians to speak out whenever anything threatened the nation’s progress.

Showing support for the governors’ forum, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, said the state of emergency would be challenged in court.

Speaking on Saturday, Osadolor noted that President Tinubu was unmindful of the implications of his pronouncement.

The youth leader added that the court remained the last hope of the common man.

Osadolor said, “The President lacks the locus to suspend two elected arms of government; the legislature and executive in the state.

There is no place in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that gives such powers.

“Has the President forgotten that the office is guided by law? Although he has the right to declare a state of emergency, there is nowhere it is stated that he can suspend officials.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the past, and the governors still held the forte in their states.

”Corroborating Osadolor, a sociopolitical group, Niger Delta Youth Council, expressed full support for the PDP Governors’ Forum in their resolve to challenge the state of emergency in court.

This was contained in a statement by the President of the NDYC, Bene Mamamu, on Friday.

He alleged that the state of emergency declared on Rivers by President Tinubu “is an expression of his bias and hatred for the Niger Delta region.

”Reverse emergency rule, Ijaw group tells Tinubu

Meanwhile, an advocacy group, Ijaw People’s Association, decried the state of emergency, describing it as a “desecration of democracy” and “desperation taken too far”.

The IPA called on the President to show that he was a democrat by reversing the decision in the interest of peace and proper development to take place.

The President of the group, Patrick Ebikebuno, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Ebikebuno noted that the declaration was disturbing for the Ijaw nation, including people of the ethnic group in Ondo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa states.

He emphasised the peaceful nature of the Ijaw people, stating, “We are gentle in character and very accommodating.

”The South-South Governors’ Forum had earlier called for the reversal of the state of emergency in Rivers State.

This was in a statement signed by the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

According to the forum, the political crisis in Rivers State ought to be ideally resolved through legal and constitutional means rather than by executive fiat.

Meanwhile, the Government of Cross River State distanced itself from the position of the South-South Governors’ Forum’s to reject the emergency rule in Rivers.

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has restrained the Peoples Democratic Party, its acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and members of the National Disciplinary Committee led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Tom Ikimi from expelling Senator Samuel Anyanwu from the party.

Justice Y. Halilu, in an order dated March 20, issued the directive after hearing Motion Ex-parte M/3951/2025, filed on March 17, 2025, along with an affidavit of urgency.

The court also listened to the arguments of Anyanwu’s counsel, K.C. O Njemanze, and M. L. Young-Arney.

The National Disciplinary Committee, led by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, recommended the expulsion of Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a loyalist of ex-Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, from the PDP.

In a letter signed by Ikimi on March 10 and received by the PDP acting National Chairman on March 11, the NDC stated that, despite being given an opportunity, Anyanwu failed to deny or defend himself against the petition filed by the Young Generation Caucus.

Ikimi committee’s report read in part “Having listened to the petitioners and the evidence led, including the oral testimonies of Hon. Afolabi Adekanbi and Dr Alex Adum, we find that the respondent, Senator Samuel Anyawu, was engaged in anti-party activities contrary to the provisions of Article 58 (1)(f) of the PDP Constitution 2017 and conduct likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of the party contrary to provisions of Article 58(1)(h) of the PDP Constitution 2017, by inviting security agents and other persons and thugs to interfere in the ordinary business of the party at the Headquarters of the party, at Wadata Plaza, Plot 1970, Michael Opara Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja., particularly 29th January and 1st February 2025.

“The NDC recommends to the National Executive Committee of the PDP as follows: Expulsion of the Respondent i.e. Senator Samuel Anyawu, as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.”

Consequently, the High Court in Abuja issued an interim injunction, restraining Damagum, the PDP, Ikimi, and other disciplinary committee members from accepting, acting on, or implementing the National Disciplinary Committee’s findings, decision, or recommendations until the Motion on Notice for an Interlocutory Injunction is heard and decided.

The order read in part, “An Order of Interim Injunction restraining the Damagum and PDP their officers, agents and or servants from in whatsoever manner accepting, acting on, implementing and or giving effect to the findings, decision and or recommendation of the National Disciplinary Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (headed by the Ikimi with Senator Abdullahi Idris Uka, Eyitayo Jegede SAN as members) made on 10th March, 2025 pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction, is hereby granted.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the Damagum and PDP, including the National Disciplinary Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, their officers, agents and or servants howsoever or whatsoever manner from suspending and or expelling the Anyanwu as a member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party or taking actions or steps adverse or prejudicial to or likely to be adverse or prejudicial to the Anyanwu’s membership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction, is hereby granted.”

The motion on notice has been adjourned for hearing on April 7.

The suspended governor of Rivers State, Similanayi Fubara, has responded to some of the allegations made by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night.

During the broadcast, Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in the state.

The President also suspended Fubara and members of the Rivers House of Assembly for six months.

Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as sole administrator of the state.

Fubara, in a statement signed by Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, denied some of the allegations made in the broadcast.

According to him, the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was not abandoned after it was demolished, but was under 80% completion.

The statement read in part, “First, it is important to clarify that Governor Fubara has nothing to do with the threats by militants and also did not in any way “telegraph” the reported attacks on any oil facility in the State.

”Fubara also claimed that some developments in Rivers State were owing to a controversial remark made by Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister, about the Ijaws.

“It is on record that the reaction of stakeholders in the Niger Delta, especially elders, chiefs, women, Ijaw National Congress, its youth wing, IYC, as well as militants, among others, were triggered by remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, in a live media chat, during which he dismissed Ijaws as a minority of the minorities and powerless in the Nigerian polity, saying that Ijaws are not the only ones that are militants and can blow up pipelines; that Ogonis, Ikwerres, and others are also militants and can as well blow up pipelines.

“Most of the Ijaw groups and leaders even demanded an apology from the FCT Minister, which he rebuffed,” he said.

Fubara “made it clear that his administration was committed to the peace, security, and safety of oil facilities in the State.“

He often recalled his pivotal role as a member of the Presidential Committee on the Protection of Oil Installations in the Region, and repeatedly emphasized the need to protect oil pipelines and other facilities in the State, urging his supporters and the people of the State to avoid acts capable of destabilizing the State or sabotaging the nation’s economy.”