Seven governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court, challenging President Bola Tinubu’s six-month suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalaye Fubara. The governors, from Bauchi, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Osun, Plateau, and Zamfara, are questioning the president’s authority to suspend a democratically elected governor and deputy governor.
The governors argue that President Tinubu lacks the statutory powers to suspend a serving governor and appoint a Sole Administrator in his stead. They also contend that the National Assembly’s approval of the state of emergency via a voice vote is invalid, as the Constitution mandates a two-thirds majority vote from each legislative chamber.
The lawsuit seeks several declarations and orders, including:
– Nullification of the proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State
– Restraint of the president from implementing the suspension of Governor Fubara and his deputy
– Restraint of the president from interfering with the execution of the governor’s constitutional duties
– Restraint of the president from suspending any other governor or undermining their constitutional duties
