By President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state’s House of Assembly has drawn harsh criticism from the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP). The coalition condemned the move as an “illegal and unconstitutional act” and vowed to challenge it legally.
Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing ongoing political crises, and announced the six-month suspension of the governor, his deputy, and all House members. However, CUPP leaders High Chief Peter Ameh, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, and Comrade Mark Adebayo described the action as a “democratic coup” aimed at furthering what they called the “dark ambitions of greedy desperados.”
The coalition argued that the suspension violates the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, noting that state governments operate independently of the federal government. They referenced the 2013 state of emergency declared by former President Goodluck Jonathan, who maintained all elected governors despite the crisis.
CUPP cited Supreme Court rulings affirming that a state of emergency does not grant the president power to remove elected officials. They claimed the suspension breaches Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution and undermines Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
Additionally, the coalition suggested that the recent pipeline explosion in Rivers State may have been orchestrated by federal-backed elements to justify the state of emergency. They warned that Tinubu’s actions could destabilize the state further, deepening the crisis instead of resolving it.
CUPP vowed to fight the suspension through legal means, asserting that Tinubu’s decision is an attempt to suppress opposition, disrupt democratic processes, and impose authoritarian control over Rivers State.
