ADC: Tinubu can’t suspend, recall elected officials like appointees — it’s autocratic

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised President Bola Tinubu over the suspension and reinstatement of Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state.

On Wednesday, Tinubu ended the emergency rule in Rivers and asked Fubara, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and members of the state house of assembly to resume duties on September 18.

The emergency rule was declared in March after a prolonged political crisis between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) and former governor of the state.

In a statement on Thursday, Bolaji Abdullahi, ADC spokesperson, said Tinubu’s actions in Rivers amounted to “political brinkmanship disguised as statesmanship”.

“The president’s decision to arrogate to himself the power to suspend and recall elected officials is whimsically autocratic and must be recognised as a threat to democracy,” Abdullahi said.

The ADC publicity secretary said what played out in Rivers was a “brazen manipulation of constitutional provisions to serve narrow political ends”.

“For six months, the will of Rivers people was set aside, their elected leaders suspended, not by a court of law, but by the president who himself was elected,” Abdullahi said.

“Now, with the wave of a hand, the same president has decided to allow duly elected officials back to work, as though they were his appointees.”

The ADC spokesperson said Tinubu’s action suggested that governors and lawmakers derive legitimacy from the president rather than from the electorate.

The former minister added that the president had achieved his goal of pacifying Rivers, sending a warning to other states to “behave themselves”.

“By removing a sitting governor and now personally directing his return, the message could not have been clearer: ‘I removed you, and I alone can bring you back. This was not about law or governance. It was about control,” he said.

The ADC also called on the supreme court to take a firm stance on the matter, warning that the precedent could undermine Nigeria’s democratic order.