On Thursday in Abuja, several opposition leaders publicly rejected President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers and called for its immediate revocation.
This comes after the House of Representatives approved the president’s request to impose a state of emergency in the region.
Among those speaking at the press conference were former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, as well as former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
Mr Abubakar termed the president’s proclamation unlawful, insisting that all parties involved should adhere to established procedures and, in good faith, implement the Supreme Court’s judgment.
He noted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara had shown goodwill and seemed willing to carry out the Supreme Court’s ruling.
While acknowledging that Section 305 of the Constitution permits the president to declare a state of emergency in cases posing severe threats to public safety, national security, or Nigeria’s sovereignty, he contended that this section does not empower the president to suspend elected officials.
Mr Abubakar further stated that even if the emergency declaration were legitimate, it would still require a two-thirds majority approval from all members of the National Assembly.
When asked whether their intervention had come too late, Abubakar responded that opposition parties had indeed reached out to their lawmakers in the National Assembly to vote against the proclamation.
Mr El-Rufai expressed hope that the National Assembly would oppose the declaration.
Mr Obi was represented by Tanko Yunusa, and other opposition figures in attendance included former Minister of Police Affairs Adamu Waziri and former APC chieftain Salihu Lukman.
