Lawyers stage peaceful demonstration to demand restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State

Thursday, May 1, 2025 - A group of lawyers, under the aegis of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy, took to the streets on Wednesday, April 30, to demand the restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State.  

The group is calling on the United States and the international community to pressure the Federal Government to rescind its decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers House of Assembly. 

The lawyers, led by their Country Director, Barr. Uche Chukwu Udeh Sylvester, argued that the declaration of a State of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu is unconstitutional.  

In a letter to President Donald Trump, they urged him to intervene and pressure the Nigerian government to restore democratic rule in Rivers State. They argued that the suspension of Fubara and the Assembly is a brazen attempt to undermine constitutional order. 

The lawyers also condemned the National Assembly for ratifying the President’s decision, describing it as an assault on democracy. 

They asked Tinubu to reconsider his stand and allow Governor Fubara to continue his work as democratically elected governor of the state. 

The letter partly reads: “In an era where democracy is supposed to reign supreme giving democracy dividends to the masses, we have found ourselves at a crossroads, a sober moment of reckoning where constitutional order is being tested most brazenly. 

“This could only have happened during the days of military juntas but we are not under the firm grip of a military dictatorship. At the moment, the country is being governed under a constitutional democracy that operates a presidential system of government. 

“President Bola Tinubu should not have taken the decision because democracy is a learning process, and the judiciary has demonstrated the capability to resolve issues. 

“The president should have allowed the various state organs to resolve the issues. It is not worthy that until recently, there was a crisis of local government administration in Osun State, which has not led to a declaration of a state of emergency.”