ABNews can confirm that former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Peter Fayose, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, saying such action is unconstitutional and reminiscent of political injustice he suffered under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Speaking during a live interview on Politics Today with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television, which was monitored by ABNews, Fayose maintained that the Nigerian Constitution does not empower the president to suspend or remove a democratically elected governor.
“I cannot support what I suffered in the past. Obasanjo once did that to me, and it was wrong then and remains wrong today. The Constitution is clear—only due process and legal procedures can remove an elected governor, not executive fiat,” Fayose stated.
His comments come amid growing backlash against Tinubu’s recent announcement suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as the sole administrator of Rivers State.
Other notable Nigerians have also spoken against the move. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the president’s action as “political manipulation and an assault on democracy,” warning that it could plunge the nation into deeper constitutional crises.
Legal experts, including constitutional lawyer Inibehe Effiong, said the president’s action contravenes Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which does not give him powers to sack an elected governor. Effiong called for immediate reversal and advised the president to abide by the rule of law.
Civil society groups such as the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room have demanded an apology from President Tinubu, calling the move dictatorial and anti-democratic. “Appointing an administrator in place of an elected government is not only illegal but sets a dangerous precedent,” the group stated.
Even voices from within the ruling APC have expressed concern. Party chieftain Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze slammed the decision, accusing the president of masterminding the political crisis in Rivers and turning democracy on its head.
ABNews will continue to monitor reactions and developments on this unfolding situation.
