Atiku: Tinubu Lacks Authority to Suspend Rivers Governor, Lawmakers

ABUJA — Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the suspension and recent reinstatement of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly, describing the move as unconstitutional and unlawful.

In a statement posted Thursday on his official X platform, Atiku insisted there was nothing to celebrate in the lifting of the suspension, arguing that the action itself had no legal foundation.
“Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about. The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and remains illegal today,” he wrote.

He further stressed that President Tinubu lacked the constitutional authority to suspend a democratically elected governor and lawmakers, warning that the episode was a dangerous signal of creeping dictatorship.

“President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration,” the former Vice President added.

Atiku’s remarks came barely 24 hours after President Tinubu lifted the state of emergency in Rivers State and directed Governor Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the House of Assembly to resume office on Thursday, September 18.