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In a strongly worded statement, the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has denounced President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a “serious breach of the 1999 Constitution” and an “impeachable offence.”
The President’s decision, which included the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly, has been described by the PRP as an “unconstitutional overreach of executive power.”
Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, the PRP’s National Publicity Secretary, emphasized that the President’s actions undermine Nigeria’s democratic framework. “The essential tenet of democracy is the recognition and respect of the electorate’s choice. No citizen should live in fear that their duly elected leaders can be dismissed by unilateral and arbitrary decisions from the Presidency,” the party stated.
The PRP highlighted that Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution allows for a state of emergency only under stringent conditions and does not authorize the suspension of elected officials.
The party argued that the political tensions in Rivers State do not constitute a constitutional crisis warranting such drastic measures. “The disputes within Rivers State are political in nature and should be resolved through established constitutional mechanisms, such as the judiciary, rather than through executive fiat,” the statement read.
Calling on the National Assembly to reject the President’s actions, the PRP urged lawmakers to “reaffirm the principles of democratic governance and the rule of law.” The party also demanded the immediate reinstatement of the suspended officials and a comprehensive review of the President’s actions to determine whether they amount to an impeachable offence.
The PRP concluded by appealing to citizens, civil society organizations, and the international community to denounce what it termed “executive overreach” and to advocate for the restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State.
“Together, we must ensure that Nigeria’s democracy remains robust and intact, free from intimidation and arbitrary power,” the statement declared.
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