George accuses Tinubu of unconstitutional overreach in Rivers crisis

Summary

• Olabode George slams President Tinubu for allegedly undermining democracy by appointing a sole administrator to oversee elections in Rivers
• Says National Assembly’s approval of emergency rule violated constitutional requirements
• Warns of creeping authoritarianism and calls for public resistance

Lagos, Nigeria — Chief Olabode George, a former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to legitimize unconstitutional actions in Rivers State, warning that such moves could erode Nigeria’s democracy.

At a press conference in Lagos on June 16, 2025, George strongly condemned Tinubu’s appointment of a local government electoral commission under Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd), the sole administrator of Rivers State, to conduct local council elections. He described the decision as a “blatant abuse of executive power” and insisted that allowing a sole administrator to conduct elections in a democratic system is unlawful and undemocratic.

“This is executive recklessness of the highest order,” George said, adding that “it poses a grave threat to the democratic stability of not only Rivers State but the entire Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.”

The controversy began on March 19, when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing political unrest and infrastructure sabotage, particularly pipeline vandalism. The move led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months, actions George and others have labelled unconstitutional.

George criticised the National Assembly for approving the emergency declaration via a voice vote, which he claimed fell short of the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority—74 senators and 240 members of the House of Representatives. He said the legislative body’s actions signal a worrying disregard for democratic checks and balances.

Citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, George stressed that only impeachment proceedings can remove a sitting governor. “The president has no power to unilaterally suspend duly elected officials. This is not a monarchy,” he said.

He further accused President Tinubu of enabling the political dominance of Nyesom Wike, the former Rivers governor and current FCT Minister, in what he described as a calculated effort to weaken Governor Fubara and consolidate federal control over the state.

“These actions are nothing short of a civilian coup. Nigerians must resist this slide into authoritarianism,” George warned.

His remarks echo growing criticism from political stakeholders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and human rights lawyer Femi Falana, all of whom have challenged the legality of the emergency declaration. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) also described the appointment of a sole administrator as a “civilian-instigated coup.”

While posts on social media platform X highlight public concern and support for George’s position, many have also called for clearer legal interpretations of the constitutional provisions involved.

In the face of continued tensions in Rivers State, George urged civil society, opposition parties, and ordinary Nigerians to defend the country’s democratic institutions and reject what he called an emerging dictatorship masked as governance.