Ijaw Youth Council Sues Tinubu Government at ECOWAS Court Over Rivers State Emergency Rule
The controversial declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu’s administration has escalated into a legal battle as the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) drags the Nigerian government before the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Court) in Abuja.
The plaintiffs, led by Harry Ibiso and 11 others, filed a suit marked ECW/CCJ/APP/18/25 on March 20, 2025. Representing themselves and the Eastern Zone of the Ijaw Youth Council, they seek a court order to overturn the suspension of elected officials and the dismantling of democratic institutions in Rivers State.
According to the applicants, the imposition of emergency rule has unlawfully stripped them and the people of Rivers State of their democratic rights, both individually and collectively. They argue that the removal of the governor, deputy governor, and state lawmakers is a blatant usurpation of constitutional governance, undermining the principles of democracy.
The suit also calls for the annulment of all policies and directives issued by the sole administrator appointed by President Tinubu on March 18, labeling the move an unconstitutional takeover of executive and legislative functions.
“The implication, therefore, is that the applicants and the people of Rivers State have lost their existence and dignity as human beings, having been politically emasculated by the loss of the values that accompany democratic governance and deprived of leaders duly elected by them in the democratic space,” the applicants asserted in their petition.
Critics have widely condemned Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, viewing it as a pretext for political control rather than a necessary measure to stabilize the state. The administration’s failure to address the role of former Governor Nyesom Wike in escalating the crisis has further fueled accusations of bias and selective governance.
While Tinubu’s aides have defended the move as a demonstration of leadership, opposition voices insist that it reflects an authoritarian grip on power. The plaintiffs argue that the Nigerian president lacks the constitutional authority to unilaterally remove an elected governor, citing legal provisions under Articles III and IV of the ECOWAS supplementary protocol, Article II of the Protocol of the Court, and Article 33 of the Rules of the Court.
As the case proceeds at the ECOWAS Court, the legal challenge raises serious questions about the boundaries of executive power and the future of democratic governance in Nigeria. With the international court now involved, the outcome could set a critical precedent for political intervention and constitutional rule in West Africa.
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Ijaw Youth Council Sues Tinubu Government at ECOWAS Court Over Rivers State Emergency Rule