President Tinubu Faces ECOWAS Court Over Rivers State Crisis

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been taken to the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja following his declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State.

A lawsuit, filed on March 20, 2025, and marked ECW/CCJ/APP/18/25, challenges the president’s decision to dissolve democratic institutions in Rivers State.

The applicants, Harry Ibiso and 11 others, representing themselves and the Eastern Zone of the Ijaw Youth Council, are demanding that the court nullifies the suspension of elected officials. They argue that the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly violates the democratic rights of Rivers State residents.

In their legal filing, they also seek to overturn all policies, decisions, and directives issued by the newly appointed Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, who was installed by President Tinubu on March 18.

The plaintiffs claim that:

"The respondent’s president, elected into political office, lacks the powers to remove or suspend the governor of a state, who was also elected into office."

They further argue that Tinubu’s decision to replace a democratically elected government with a military-appointed administrator has deprived the people of Rivers State of their fundamental political rights.

The suit contends that the state of emergency should not be used as a tool to override democratic governance. The applicants maintain that:

“The people of Rivers State have lost their existence and dignity as human beings, having been politically emasculated by the loss of the values that accompany democratic governance.”

They assert that a state of emergency cannot justify: The usurpation of executive functions of an elected governor. The dissolution of a state legislature elected by the people.

On March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing ongoing political instability. Despite strong opposition from political leaders, the National Assembly approved the declaration on March 21.

Since then, Vice Admiral Ibas has taken office as the Sole Administrator, effectively displacing the elected state government.

With the case now before the ECOWAS Court, legal and political analysts are watching closely to see if the ruling could set a precedent for presidential powers over state governance.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have major implications for democracy in Nigeria and across the West African region.