The All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a strong defense of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, attributing the crisis to the actions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. In a press statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC accused Governor Fubara of undermining democracy and governance in the state, justifying the President’s decision as a necessary and constitutionally-backed measure.
The statement, released on March 18, 2025, from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, Esq, detailed the party’s position on the unfolding crisis in Rivers State. It accused Governor Fubara of being the “author of the extreme events” that led to the declaration of a state of emergency, citing his alleged demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly and his governance without a functional legislature as key factors.
The APC claimed that Governor Fubara’s decision to demolish the State House of Assembly destroyed the foundation of democracy in Rivers State. “When he brazenly demolished the Rivers State House of Assembly, Fubara destroyed the very foundation of democracy in the state,” the statement read. The party further accused the governor of governing without a legislature and expending state funds without valid legislative appropriations, actions it described as unconstitutional.
“There cannot be a governor without a legislature and the judiciary,” the APC stated. “All three arms of government, although separate in their constitutional powers, must co-exist in order to have a government known to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The party referenced a Supreme Court ruling that allegedly confirmed the absence of a functional government in Rivers State since the destruction of the legislature. “By his reckless actions, Fubara asked for and set the stage for this outcome,” the statement added.
The APC praised President Tinubu for his “courage and leadership” in declaring a state of emergency, describing it as a necessary step to protect lives and property in Rivers State. “The declaration of a state of emergency, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was a necessary, constitutionally-backed measure to protect lives and property, and extend governance to the good people of Rivers State,” the statement read.
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The party emphasized that the safety and well-being of the people of Rivers State must take precedence over political considerations. “The safety and well-being of the people is paramount at this time, and must trump all political considerations,” the APC stated.
The APC warned that without decisive action, Rivers State faced a looming breakdown of law and order. The party commended President Tinubu for taking steps to forestall such a scenario, asserting that his intervention was in the best interest of the state and the nation.
“Again, President Tinubu has demonstrated courage and leadership in forestalling a looming breakdown of law and order in the state,” the statement concluded.
The APC’s statement has sparked mixed reactions across Nigeria, with supporters of the party backing the President’s decision while opposition groups and civil society organizations criticize it as an overreach of executive power. The declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State remain contentious issues, with many calling for a return to constitutional governance.
As the situation unfolds, the focus will remain on the National Assembly’s response to the declaration and whether the measures taken by President Tinubu will achieve the stated goal of restoring stability to Rivers State.
