Di Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) don sue President Bola Tinubu because of wetin dem call “unlawful suspension” of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, e deputy Ngozi Odu, and di State House of Assembly members.
Last Tuesday, President Tinubu declare state of emergency for Rivers State and suspend di governor plus oda elected officials for six months. E talk say e take di action because of di violence, explosions, and pipeline vandalism wey happen for di state within 24 hours, as e link di crisis to di political wahala wey dey di state.
Di President base e decision on Section 305 of di 1999 Nigerian Constitution, but di move don cause serious backlash from di Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), opposition leaders, and legal experts.
For one statement wey dem release on Sunday, SERAP argue say di suspension no follow constitutional process and e dey undermine democracy. Di group file di case for Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday through three of dia Volunteer Lawyers for Rivers State – Yirabari Israel Nulog, Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal, and Gracious Eyoh-Sifumbukho.
SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, talk say: “Rule of law go just be empty talk if government fit just suspend people rights anyhow.”
Di group also insist say di suspension contradict di Nigerian Constitution, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and di African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance.
Dem cite sections 1(2), 14(1)(c), 176(1)(2), and 305(1) of di Constitution, say di law don already put balance of power wey go make sure say presidential authority no go override di rights of di people to participate for governance.
Di case don add another twist to di political wahala wey dey shake Rivers State, as more voices dey criticize di decision.
