ADC has slammed President Tinubu over the suspension and reinstatement of Rivers Governor Fubara.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as the “whimsically autocratic” suspension and subsequent reinstatement of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party accused the President of disguising “political brinkmanship as statesmanship,” stressing that Tinubu’s actions in Rivers State could define his political legacy.
The ADC maintained that the suspension of Governor Fubara was “self-serving, unconstitutional, and a brazen manipulation of constitutional provisions.”
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“On Wednesday, September 17, Nigerians witnessed a curious spectacle: President Tinubu directing the Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State Assembly to ‘resume’ duties after serving his six-month suspension from office,” the statement read in part.
The party faulted the President for arrogating to himself powers that only the judiciary possesses, noting that elected officials derive their legitimacy from the people and not from Aso Rock.
“The President is not a Headmaster, and Governors are not his pupils to be sent home and recalled at his discretion. Only a competent court can remove or restrain them,” the ADC declared.
According to the opposition party, the Rivers political crisis was a “contrived situation” that required an impartial presidential intervention, but instead, Tinubu allegedly chose to advance the interests of “demagogues within his government.”
The ADC further alleged that the six-month suspension had reduced Rivers governance to a “pacified structure loyal not to its people, but to Abuja.” It warned that the development now serves as a signal to other state governments to “behave themselves” or risk similar treatment.
The party also mocked presidential aides’ claims that Tinubu cut short his vacation to address insecurity, describing it as “laughable.” It argued that the President’s sole purpose was to personally oversee Fubara’s reinstatement, “basking in the glory of assumed dictatorial powers.”
“The President’s actions were not about law, justice, or governance, but about control — reinforcing the idea that institutions remain subordinate to the will of one man,” the ADC stressed.
Citing Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides for emergency powers, the ADC insisted it was never intended for “political convenience” but for genuine crises such as floods, epidemics, or insurrections.
The party, therefore, called on the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, to take a clear stance on the matter, warning that silence would amount to complicity in “the subversion of democracy.”
