Seven governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court, contesting President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for six months.

The governors—representing Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara—argue that Tinubu lacks constitutional authority to remove a democratically elected governor and appoint a sole administrator in his place.

Through their Attorneys-General, the governors cite Sections 1(2), 5(2), and 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and assert that:

• The President has no legal power to suspend a governor, deputy governor, or state legislature.
• The state of emergency in Rivers State does not meet the constitutional conditions under Section 305.
• The National Assembly’s approval of the suspension via a voice vote was unconstitutional, as a two-thirds majority is required.

The PDP governors are seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention to:

1. Nullify the state of emergency in Rivers State.
2. Invalidate the appointment of a sole administrator.
3. Restrict the President from implementing Fubara’s suspension.
4. Prevent the President from suspending other governors or interfering in state governance.

On March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing governance concerns. This led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly for six months. The National Assembly ratified the decision, allowing for the appointment of a sole administrator to oversee the state.

With the case now at the Supreme Court, the legal battle could set a landmark precedent on executive powers and state autonomy in Nigeria.