Peter Obi rejects emergency rule in Rivers, urges legislative intervention

Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly opposed any move to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, urging the National Assembly and key stakeholders to resist such an action.

In a statement posted on his X handle, Obi criticized any suggestion of emergency rule, arguing that it would be undemocratic and contrary to the rule of law.

He warned that such a step could undermine Nigeria’s democratic progress and set a dangerous precedent for governance in the country.

“The situation in Rivers does not justify such an extreme measure,” Obi wrote. “It is also a biased interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution.”

He further stressed that declaring a state of emergency does not grant the President the power to unilaterally remove an elected governor, describing such a move as a constitutional overreach.

Obi argued that the idea of emergency rule in Rivers State contradicts democratic principles and good governance, suggesting that it could serve political interests rather than the collective good of the people of Rivers and Nigeria as a whole.

“This action constitutes an unconstitutional overreach, setting a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers,” he stated.

The former Anambra State governor also emphasized that Nigeria has made significant democratic progress over the past 26 years, warning that such an intervention could erode those gains.