The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has expressed deep concern over the reported plan by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), the Sole Administrator appointed by the President to oversee Rivers State, to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the Convener of the Situation Room, Yunusa Z. Ya’u, described the development as unconstitutional and warned that it sets a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.

Referring to its earlier statement on 19 March 2025, the Situation Room reiterated its rejection of the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which it described as an unlawful exercise of executive power.

Despite public outcry and calls on the National Assembly to uphold its constitutional role in checking executive overreach, the legislature endorsed the emergency declaration. The Situation Room said this move enabled what it called a troubling erosion of democratic norms, sparking protests in Rivers State and other parts of the country.

Quoting Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ya’u stressed that only an elected state governor has the constitutional authority to initiate the appropriation process.

“With the suspension of both the Governor and the State House of Assembly in Rivers State, it is constitutionally untenable for any valid appropriation law to be enacted,” he stated.

Ya’u also noted that Section 305 of the Constitution does not provide for the appointment of a Sole Administrator in place of an elected governor, warning that any such move undermines constitutional governance and risks plunging the country into a deeper democratic crisis.

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The Situation Room further raised alarm over the Sole Administrator’s recent announcement of the release of previously withheld local government allocations.

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“These funds had been withheld due to the state’s failure to conduct constitutionally required local government elections. Their release, under the current unconstitutional arrangement, blatantly disregards judicial authority, especially the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling prohibiting disbursement of federal allocations to unelected local government councils,” Ya’u stated.

The group said these actions represent ongoing violations of constitutional provisions and court rulings, contributing to growing tension and unrest across the country.

Condemning the violent suppression of recent protests, Ya’u said: “On Monday, 7 April 2025, officers of the Nigeria Police Force fired tear gas at peaceful demonstrators in Rivers State and in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This is a direct attack on citizens exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association as enshrined in Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution.”

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The Situation Room called on security agencies to respect and protect the rights of protesters, rather than intimidate or attack them.

It also urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to restore democratic governance in Rivers State, including reinstating the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State House of Assembly.

Finally, the group appealed to all Nigerians, civil society organisations and the media to defend the Constitution and safeguard the nation’s democracy.

“Democracy cannot thrive in a climate of impunity,” Ya’u concluded.