Concerned Nigerians in Defence of Democratic Governance have petitioned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the alleged breach of law on the proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a letter dated the 24th of this month and addressed to ECOWAS Commission President, His Excellency Omar Alieu Touray, the coalition maintained that the proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers State was antithetical to the sustenance of democracy in the country.

The petition, jointly signed by Comrade Aliyu Tanko, Bello Adamu, Nnamdi Ekwueme, Nicholas Upelle, Sadiq Alao, and Oche Oche, was also addressed to the High Commissioners of Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. It expressed concerns over the measure, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The activists argued that the President’s action in Rivers is unconstitutional and sets a dangerous precedent for democratic governance in Nigeria and the broader West African region if nothing is done to address it.

They alleged that President Tinubu’s decision was politically motivated and aimed at empowering his ally, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to take control of Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

They further accused the President of using the emergency rule as a strategy to intimidate other state governors, warning that this could lead to wider instability in the country.

The group warned that if ECOWAS fails to act, the situation could escalate into a major crisis, potentially leading to the large-scale displacement of people and instability in West Africa.

Calling for the immediate reinstatement of Governor Fubara and other suspended officials to their offices, they stressed that upholding democratic principles is crucial for the stability of the region.