Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend elected officials in Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency.
In a statement released on March 19, 2025, El-Rufai described the action as unconstitutional and a threat to democratic governance.
El-Rufai emphasized that while the President has broad responsibilities, his powers remain constrained by the Constitution, which does not grant him the authority to remove elected state officials.
“Certain actions are so clearly unconstitutional that no justification can make them right,” he stated, insisting that Tinubu’s decision undermines Nigeria’s democratic federalism.
While acknowledging the security concerns in Rivers State, El-Rufai argued that the crisis should have been addressed by empowering security agencies through emergency measures, rather than dismantling the state’s leadership.
He referenced a Supreme Court ruling in Dariye vs. Attorney General of the Federation, which established that suspending elected officials is illegal.
El-Rufai also reminded Tinubu of his past opposition to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s emergency declaration in the Northeast, which did not involve suspending elected leaders.
He urged the President to reconsider his stance in Rivers State to safeguard democratic principles and prevent further instability.
Drawing parallels to historical instances where democratic institutions were weakened, including the 1962 emergency rule in the old Western Region, El-Rufai called on Nigerians to resist actions that violate the Constitution.
He appealed to citizens, particularly those committed to democracy, to speak out against what he termed an unjustifiable overreach of executive power.