Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, is set to spearhead a coalition of political leaders today at a press conference scheduled for 10:00 AM at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
The gathering aims to address President Bola Tinubu’s controversial declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, a move that has drawn widespread criticism from legal experts and political figures.
According to Atiku’s special adviser on broadcast media, Abdul Rasheed Shehu, who made the announcement via his X handle, the press conference will offer the coalition’s official response to the emergency proclamation.
President Tinubu, during a national broadcast on Tuesday evening, declared the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months. Retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd.), was appointed as the sole administrator of the state during the period of emergency rule.
The decision has sparked intense debate, with many legal experts arguing that the Nigerian Constitution does not empower the president to remove an elected governor through an emergency declaration.
Analysts have described the move as potentially unconstitutional, emphasizing that it requires ratification by the National Assembly to be legally binding.
As of Wednesday, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have yet to deliberate on the matter. For President Tinubu’s decision to take effect, it must secure a two-thirds majority approval in both legislative chambers.
The coalition led by Atiku Abubakar is expected to outline its stance on the matter and potentially influence the National Assembly’s impending decision.
