The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, asserting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s actions posed a threat to democracy.
President Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to impose emergency rule in the oil-rich state, citing prolonged political instability. The directive also led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
While opposition voices and legal experts have raised concerns about the constitutional basis of the move, Morka, speaking in an exclusive interview on Eagle 102.5 FM, defended the President’s decision, accusing the suspended governor of undermining democratic institutions.
“Everyone commenting has been speaking from a place of political bias. If they were objective, they would acknowledge that Governor Fubara repeatedly trampled on democratic principles. He attempted to remove the Speaker of the Rivers Assembly, and when that failed, he resorted to demolishing the Assembly complex, effectively crippling legislative functions in the state,” Morka stated.
He further justified the emergency rule by citing intelligence reports of rising security threats, including the vandalization of the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP), Nigeria’s largest oil pipeline. According to him, these incidents necessitated urgent federal intervention to prevent further destabilization.
Morka also noted that the decision was not unilateral but was later ratified by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly, which he described as a multi-partisan body representing diverse political interests.
However, legal experts, including members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have questioned the suspension of Governor Fubara, arguing that Section 188 of the Constitution outlines a clear process for the removal of a sitting governor, which was not followed.
In response, Morka clarified that the President did not remove Fubara but only suspended him as an extraordinary measure to stabilize governance in Rivers State. He referenced Section 5, Subsection 3 of the Constitution, which prohibits a governor from exercising executive authority in a manner that undermines the federal government.
Amid ongoing debates, Morka dismissed criticisms from opposition parties, accusing them of failing to address the crisis before federal intervention became necessary.
The political landscape in Rivers State remains tense, as stakeholders and legal experts continue to scrutinize the constitutionality of President Tinubu’s decision.
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