Rivers: CSO writes Senate, seeks Tinubu’s impeachment

The Pilex Centre for Education Initiative, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) based in Rivers, has accused President Bola Tinubu of gross misconduct in the handling of governance in Rivers, calling on the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against him.

The organisation, through its Executive Director, Courage Nsirimovu, addressed a petition to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, in which it alleged that the President violated the Nigerian Constitution by suspending democratic structures in Rivers and appointing a sole administrator in place of the elected governor and legislature.

The group argued that while Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) empowers the President to declare a state of emergency, it does not grant him authority to suspend an elected governor or dissolve the House of Assembly.

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Citing Supreme Court precedents, including A.G. Federation v. A.G. Lagos (2004) and A.G. Plateau State v. A.G. Federation (2013), Pilex maintained that Tinubu’s actions amounted to an unconstitutional takeover of a part of Nigeria.

Pilex said, “The President swore to defend the Constitution and not allow personal interests to influence his official conduct. His decision to impose a sole administrator in Rivers State, empower him to appoint members of the State Independent Electoral Commission, and issue unconstitutional directives to the governor represent a grave violation of the Constitution”.

It also faulted the Executive Order on Emergency Powers (Conduct of Local Government Council Elections and Local Government Election Tribunal Proceedings Regulations 2025), which it said unlawfully vested the Sole Administrator with powers reserved for the governor under Sections 198 and 201 of the Constitution.

The group further alleged that the Rivers crisis was not comparable to situations in some other states like Plateau or Benue, where emergency rule followed widespread conflict, claiming that Rivers State was relatively peaceful before the federal intervention.

It described the move as politically motivated and detrimental to democracy and social justice.

Pilex referenced Section 14 of the Constitution, insisting that sovereignty belongs to the people and accused the President of denying the Rivers people their right to participate in governance.

“We, therefore, urge the Senate to investigate these grave allegations and impeach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in line with its constitutional duty to defend democracy and the rule of law,” Pilex stated in the petition.

The petition was also copied to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, international human rights groups, opposition party leaders, foreign embassies, and civil society organisations.