Opposition lawmaker, Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Ugochinyere described the move as an unconstitutional overreach, arguing that while the President has the power to declare a state of emergency under Section 305 of the 1999 constitution, he exceeded his authority by suspending Governor Similayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The lawmaker also accused President Tinubu of bypassing the National Assembly’s authority, referencing Section 11 of the Constitution, which grants the legislature the power to make laws for a state if its House of Assembly becomes dysfunctional. Ugochinyere questioned the President’s power to appoint an administrator to oversee the state, stating that this position is unknown to law.