The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has described the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers as undemocratic.
In a reaction on his X handle on Wednesday, Obi said that the action was against the rule of law, and capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
Obi said that it was grossly unconstitutional to remove a serving governor of a state through a unilateral declaration of state of emergency.
He said that the situation was capable of undoing the progress the country had made in the past 26 years of its democratic journey.
“The situation in Rivers does not justify such an extreme measure, it is also a biased interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 constitution.
“A state of emergency does not mean that an elected governor can be removed unilaterally.
“The decision does not align with democratic norms and good governance. It appears to be a predetermined action serving specific interests rather than the collective good of Rivers people and Nigeria.
“This action constitutes an unconstitutional overreach, setting a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers,” he said.
Obi urged the National Assembly and all stakeholders not to allow the decision to stand in the interest of democracy and the wellbeing of Rivers people.
