Former House of Representatives member, Mr Farah Dagogo, has insisted that despite the lifting of the emergency rule in Rivers State, there is still a compelling need for judicial clarification on the constitutional issues raised by the President’s action.
Dagogo, who spoke on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, during the resumed hearing of Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/50/2025, is challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s constitutional authority to suspend democratically elected officials in the state during the emergency period.
“We know and still believe that the President did not have the power to do what he did. Proceeding with this suit even after the suspension has been lifted is not an academic exercise,” he stated.
“We seek judicial clarification for the sake of posterity and are prepared to go as far as the Supreme Court, God willing.”
He cautioned that unless the courts make a definitive pronouncement, the President’s action could set a dangerous precedent that future administrations might exploit to remove elected officials for political reasons.
Dagogo also lamented the toll the six-month emergency rule took on Rivers State, saying governance was paralysed, development stagnated, and the people suffered despite huge federal allocations.
“For the six months that the emergency rule lasted, Rivers State and its people were the casualties. Governance was stalled, development stagnated, and the state suffered despite the enormous resources available,” he said.
Tuesday’s session marked the first time all defendants were fully represented in court since the commencement of the suit. The defendants include President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; the Senate; Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), who administered the state during the emergency period.
Legal analysts say the case could redefine the limits of executive emergency powers and test the resilience of Nigeria’s constitutional safeguards against federal overreach.
