The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over the controversial suspension of Rivers State Governor, his deputy, and members of the state’s House of Assembly. The six-month suspension, which was announced alongside the president’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state, has sparked a legal challenge for its alleged violation of constitutional provisions.
Filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the lawsuit, numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2025, seeks to overturn the suspension of the democratically elected officials. The plaintiffs, three members of SERAP’s Volunteers’ Lawyers Network (SVLN) from Rivers State Yirabari Israel Nulog, Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal, and Gracious Eyoh-Sifumbukho are calling for the suspension to be set aside, along with the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, emphasized that such actions undermine democracy and the rule of law. He argued that “the rule of law would be a mere figure of speech if the people’s right to participation can be arbitrarily suspended or violated,” stressing that Nigeria’s democracy should be rooted in respect for human rights and the rule of law.
The group insists that President Tinubu’s decision contravenes both Nigeria’s Constitution and international legal standards, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance. SERAP argues that the suspension violates the delicate balance of rights and responsibilities guaranteed by Sections 1(2), 14(1)(c), 176(1)(2), and 305(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which ensures citizens’ right to participate in governance.
Moreover, the organization contends that the powers granted to the president under Section 305 to declare a state of emergency are not absolute and should not override constitutional protections for democratic participation. “The suspension of these officials has undermined the plaintiffs’ ability to engage effectively in governance, eroded the credibility of the electoral process, and challenged the rule of law,” the statement read.
Among the reliefs sought, SERAP is asking the court to declare the president’s actions as “unlawful, unconstitutional, null, and void” and issue an injunction preventing Vice Admiral Ibas from continuing as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
As of now, no date has been set for the hearing of the suit. This legal challenge marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over the balance of power and democratic rights in Nigeria.
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