The Obidient Movement, a prominent political group supporting Peter Obi of the Labour Party, has issued a scathing condemnation of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. In a press release dated March 19, 2025, the movement described the move as unconstitutional, illegal, and a direct threat to Nigeria’s democratic principles.
The controversy stems from President Tinubu’s announcement on March 18, 2025, during a nationwide broadcast, in which he suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months. The decision was made amid escalating political tensions and reports of pipeline vandalism in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, which have heightened security concerns.
However, the Obidient Movement argues that the president’s actions violate Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which outlines the procedures for declaring a state of emergency. The movement emphasized that the constitution does not grant the president the authority to unilaterally remove a duly elected state governor. Instead, it specifies that a governor can only vacate office through impeachment by at least a two-thirds majority of the State House of Assembly, death, or resignation.
“This blatant unconstitutional and undemocratic act undermines the rule of law and threatens the fabric of our democracy,” the press release stated. The movement called on the National Assembly to invoke its powers under Section 305(2) of the constitution to revoke the state of emergency, labeling the declaration as an “anti-democratic” move by forces seeking to destabilize governance in Rivers State.
The statement also referenced historical political crises in Rivers State, noting the region’s long-standing challenges. It expressed disappointment in President Tinubu, a former pro-democracy advocate who, according to the movement, once criticized similar actions, such as the state of emergency declared by then-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013. “It is regrettable that President Tinubu, who strongly criticized and condemned such actions in the past, has now become a champion of what he once decried,” the release read.
Nana Kazaurce, Director of Strategic Communications and Media for the Obidient Movement, urged President Tinubu to reconsider his decision and refrain from succumbing to political pressures surrounding Rivers State. The movement stressed that such actions jeopardize Nigeria’s democratic framework and called for adherence to constitutional processes.
The declaration of the state of emergency has already sparked widespread tension in Rivers State, with reports of explosions and security concerns further complicating the political landscape. The Obidient Movement’s statement aligns with broader criticisms from opposition figures and legal experts, who argue that the president’s actions lack legal grounding and could exacerbate the ongoing crisis in the state.
As the situation unfolds, the movement’s call for constitutional compliance and the revocation of the emergency declaration has added fuel to the national debate over governance, federalism, and the rule of law in Nigeria.