The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken President Bola Tinubu to court over what it calls the “illegal suspension” of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and state lawmakers. Last Tuesday, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state and suspended these officials for six months. He blamed the move on “disturbing” violence in the past day, including explosions and damaged petroleum pipelines tied to the state’s political turmoil, using Section 305 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution as his justification.

The decision sparked backlash from groups like the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association, opposition leaders, and top lawyers. On Sunday, SERAP announced it filed a lawsuit against Tinubu on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, led by three of its volunteer lawyers from Rivers State: Yirabari Israel Nulog, Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal, and Gracious Eyoh-Sifumbukho.

SERAP argues the suspension breaks the Constitution and hurts democracy. “If the people’s right to have a say can just be tossed aside, the rule of law means nothing,” said SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare. “Democracy depends on respecting human rights and the law—Nigeria’s got to stick to that.”

The group says Tinubu’s action goes against Nigeria’s Constitution and international rules, like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance. They point to Sections 1(2), 14(1)(c), 176(1)(2), and 305(1) of the Constitution, saying these balance power so the president can’t just override the people’s right to choose their leaders.