11 PDP governors urge S’Court to halt Rivers emergency rule

A total of 11 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party have approached the Supreme Court challenging what powers President Bola Tinubu has to suspend a democratically elected structure of a state.

The suit filed by the governors also challenges the declaration of a state of emergency rule in Rivers State.

While the media previously reported that the suit had been filed before the Supreme Court, the governors suit was actually only filed before the apex court on Tuesday.

This was exclusively confirmed to The PUNCH by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande.

President Bola Tinubu had on March 18 declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the state deputy governor, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

Following the suspension, President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator to oversee the affairs of Rivers State pending the period of the suspension.

Meanwhile, the legislature at the National Assembly, on their part supported the President’s decision to implement the suspension.