According to the report from the Vanguard, The unfolding political turmoil in Rivers State has taken a significant twist, drawing attention from legal experts and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regarding the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s proposition for a state of emergency and the appointment of an interim administrator.
The recent crisis was triggered by the refusal of Local Government Area chairpersons, whose terms had expired, to vacate their positions. Their bid to extend their stay in office, in defiance of legal requirements, led to outbreaks of violent protests.
The APC called for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the escalating political strife that is tearing through the state's political landscape. Tony Okocha, the chair of the APC's caretaker in Rivers, made this demand in Port Harcourt during a press briefing where he squarely placed the blame for the unrest on the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Okocha emphasized the urgent need for federal intervention to restore peace, highlighting the state's current state of strife, stating, "We are at war in Rivers State, and because the governor is unteachable, APC in Rivers State is calling for a state of emergency so that we can have peace in this state."
Drawing references from past instances, it is noted that former Presidents like Olusegun Obasanjo resorted to declaring states of emergency in specific regions such as Plateau and Ekiti states. However, Goodluck Jonathan took a different approach by not removing elected officials when declaring such emergencies, opting rather to retain all state functionaries.
In contrast to the APC's stance, the PDP firmly opposed the call for a state of emergency, asserting its rejection of any attempt to impose such a rule or allow the police to occupy council headquarters. The party maintained that the current situation in Rivers did not warrant the need for emergency measures.
Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, intensified opposition against the proposal for emergency rule, cautioning President Bola Tinubu against yielding to the pressure of "self-serving anti-democratic forces fueling the flames of conflict in Rivers State." Wabara's firm stance underscores the party's commitment to preventing any actions that could potentially plunge the state into further unrest.