Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, without following due process.

Obi described the removal of Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly as unconstitutional and reckless. In a statement on his X handle, he warned that such actions pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy, undermine the rule of law, and set a dangerous precedent for governance. He argued that this decision has thrown the country into disorder, undoing 26 years of democratic progress.

Obi accused the President of showing a “dangerous willingness to disregard democracy” by bypassing constitutional procedures and imposing a state of emergency in Rivers State without justification.

He stated:

“Declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State is not just reckless, it is a deliberate attempt to tighten the government’s grip on power and drag the country back into lawlessness.”

“This move is nothing short of enforcing martial law through the backdoor, which has serious consequences for our democracy.”

“The decision misinterprets Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines when a state of emergency can be declared. Nowhere does it give the President the power to unilaterally remove an elected governor. This action is a direct violation of democratic principles and good governance.”

Obi stressed that the move does not serve the people’s interests but appears to be a pre-planned political maneuver to benefit certain groups rather than the general welfare of Rivers State and Nigeria.

He urged the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders to reject the decision, stating:

“I call on the National Assembly and all democratic institutions to resist this move because allowing it to stand will only deepen the culture of impunity threatening our democracy.”

Obi further warned that if this action is allowed to stand, it will encourage further lawlessness and political manipulation. He expressed concern that Nigeria is already struggling with electoral fraud, disregard for due process, and large-scale rigging.

He concluded by urging the National Assembly and democratic institutions to take action, warning that failure to do so would only strengthen impunity and worsen political instability in the country.