The Federal Government has presented its case to the Supreme Court, justifying the imposition of a state of emergency on Rivers State, citing a severe political crisis, governance collapse, and attacks on critical economic infrastructure. The declaration, made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025, was in response to what the government described as an untenable breakdown of law and order in the oil-rich state.
The Federal Government’s position was detailed in an affidavit by Mr. Taiye Hussain Oloyede, Special Assistant to the President and the Federal Ministry of Justice, filed in response to a lawsuit by 11 opposition-controlled states: Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Zamfara. The states, mostly governed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenged the legality of the emergency rule.
According to the affidavit, Rivers State descended into chaos due to a rift between suspended Governor Similayi Fubara and the state House of Assembly. The crisis saw only four loyal lawmakers operating from the governor’s office, while 27 others were sidelined, unable to perform their constitutional duties. The Federal Government accused Fubara of escalating tensions by demolishing the state House of Assembly complex, depriving the 27 lawmakers of a venue to convene.
The affidavit further highlighted the absence of an Appropriation Bill, which stalled governance as the governor failed to present a budget for legislative approval. “Governance had run to a standstill,” Oloyede stated, noting that the political deadlock led to multiple lawsuits as both sides sought to outmaneuver each other.
Beyond internal political strife, the Federal Government pointed to security concerns, including vandalism of oil pipelines and threats by militants who openly targeted perceived enemies of the governor. It alleged that Fubara took no action to curb these incidents or denounce the militants, further necessitating federal intervention.
The 11 plaintiff states argued that the Federal Government overstepped its authority, but the FG refuted their claims, asserting that the crisis in Rivers State posed a direct threat to national economic assets and public safety. Oloyede’s affidavit denied the majority of the plaintiffs’ allegations, emphasizing that the state of emergency was a necessary response to restore order.
