“No Government In Rivers State”: FG Cites Supreme Court To Justify Emergency Rule, Seeks Dismissal Of PDP Governors’ Suit

The Federal Government has formally tabled before the Supreme Court its reasons for imposing a state of emergency on Rivers State, citing collapse of governance and attacks on critical national economic infrastructure as key factors. It says it had no choice but to intervene.

The government laid its position bare before the apex court yesterday in response to a suit filed by 11 states mostly controlled by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The states are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara.

The plaintiffs alleged that the Federal Government erred in law by imposing emergency rule on Rivers State.

However, the federal government is disputing the plaintiffs’ claims.

In an affidavit by the Special Assistant to the President and the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Taiye Hussain Oloyede, the Federal Government alleged a very serious political crisis in Rivers State which culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 15, 2025.

It said critical economic assets of the state, including oil pipelines, became targets of vandalization while militants openly threatened fire and brimstone against those they perceived as enemies of the governor, with the governor not doing anything.

Besides, the FG said the state’s crisis reached a point where the suspended Governor Similayi Fubara demolished the state House of Assembly complex.

It said the breakdown of law in the state was such that only four members of the State Assembly were sitting in Fubara’s office.

It said 27 other lawmakers were deprived the constitutional right to make laws for the state.

It said the governor and the lawmakers were trying to outdo one another in a series of suits on the political logjam in the state.

The Federal Government said the governor was not able to present any Appropriation Bill to the House to be passed to access funds to run the state. It is also confirmed classified security report that Fubara demolished the State House of Assembly Complex.

Oloyede, in the affidavit, said: “I am a Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. By reason of that, I have been working in close contact with the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, the 1st defendant in this case.

“Further by reason of the same position, I know the facts of this case and I have the authority of the President and Chief Akin Olujinmi, CON, SAN, counsel to the 1st defendant, to swear to this counter affidavit.

“I have read through the affidavit in support of the plaintiffs originating summons. I admit paragraphs 1 and 8 of the affidavit in support of the originating summons.

“I deny paragraphs 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7,9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, #7, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32 of the affidavit in support of the originating summons on the ground that they are not true.

“By reason of my job as Special Assistant to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, I know the facts and circumstances that happened in Rivers State, which culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Bola Tinubu on 18th March, 2025.

“It is a matter of common knowledge that there was a very serious political crisis in Rivers State which had led to the Governor of Rivers State and the House of Assembly not being able to work together.

“The State House of Assembly was crisis ridden such that members of the House were divided into two with four members working with the governor while 27 members were opposed to the governor while one was loyal to the Speaker of the House.