Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) counterpart have condemned the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State.

In a joint statement by the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, and Festus Osifo of TUC, the two labour groups described the decision as hasty and a violation of the Constitution.

The statement read in part: “This action blatantly violates the provisions of Part II, Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and constitutes an overreach of executive power. The purported suspension or removal of the governor, deputy governor, and the state House of Assembly is not only unlawful but a direct assault on democracy.”

Labour insisted that the move set a dangerous precedent, eroding constitutional governance and threatening the autonomy of sub-national governments.

The two central labour bodies maintained that no democratic society could thrive where elected leaders were arbitrarily removed at the whims of the President, saying the move should deeply concern every reasonable governor and citizen, who believed in the rule of law.

The labour bodies said the President, as the custodian of the nation’s executive powers, must exercise restraint, respect constitutional limits and act in a manner that inspires national confidence rather than suspicion.

ALSO, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has strongly condemned President Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency, describing it as an unconstitutional overreach that threatens Nigeria’s democracy.

In a statement, yesterday in Abuja, the coalition of civil society organisations rejected the removal of the elected governor, deputy governor, and suspension of the state House of Assembly, arguing that the President’s actions violated the 1999 Constitution.

The Situation Room emphasised that the political crisis in Rivers State did not meet the constitutional criteria for emergency rule, such as war, external aggression, or a total breakdown of law and order. The group also pointed out that the Supreme Court had ruled on the matter, reinforcing the constitutional limits on executive powers.

MEANWHILE, the National Consultative Front (NCFront), led by Prof. Pat Utomi, has condemned the state of emergency.

NCFront, in a statement signed by its Director-General, Olawale Okunniyi, said there was no basis for emergency rule in Rivers State, as the conditions stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution for emergency rule did not yet exist in the state.

The group called for the suspension of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, describing him as the arrowhead of the crises in Rivers State.

It also urged PDP to “call off the bluff of the growing recklessness and political rascality of Mr Nyesom Wike, for daring to revoke the tenancy rights of PDP property,” noting that the APC’s Federal Government’s move was to destabilise the party ahead of the 2027 electioneering.