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Nigerian Civil Society Groups Petition UN Over Alleged Erosion of Democracy in Rivers State
A coalition of Nigerian civil society organizations has formally petitioned the United Nations Human Rights Committee, seeking urgent intervention in what they describe as an unconstitutional subversion of democracy in Rivers State.
In a strongly worded letter dated March 26, 2025, the Concerned Civil Society Organizations (CCSO) accused President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly of orchestrating an unlawful takeover of the state government, in violation of Nigeria’s Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The petition—signed by Egondu Esinwoke (Convener), Courage Nsirimovu (Coordinator), and 24 other civil society groups—outlines a series of alleged constitutional breaches, beginning with the political influence of former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
According to the petitioners, Wike has manipulated state lawmakers to act against the elected Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, in an attempt to maintain control over the state’s political structure. They allege that 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at Wike’s behest, a move that, under the Nigerian Constitution, should result in their removal from office.
However, in a highly controversial Supreme Court ruling, the defected lawmakers were reinstated despite clear legal precedents to the contrary—a decision the petitioners attribute to Wike’s alleged influence over the judiciary. Additionally, the court ruled that Rivers State’s federal allocations be withheld until an appropriation bill is passed by the contested legislature, a move that has further crippled the state government.
Perhaps the most alarming claim in the petition is that President Tinubu unilaterally declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, effectively suspending the Governor, Deputy Governor, and legislative arm of government—an action the petitioners describe as an outright coup against democracy.
The petition further argues that Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, which outlines conditions under which a state of emergency may be declared, does not empower the President to remove elected officials. It also raises concerns about the legitimacy of the National Assembly’s approval of the emergency declaration, which was reportedly passed via a controversial voice vote, suggesting possible legislative manipulation.
In an apparent consolidation of executive control, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas (Rtd) has been appointed as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State—a move the petitioners liken to military rule disguised as democracy.
The petition also highlights widespread human rights violations in Rivers State following the declaration of emergency, including:
1) Suppression of freedom of speech and press
2) Prohibition of peaceful protests, with threats of military action against demonstrators
3) Forced resignations and removals of state officials
The CCSO has called on the United Nations, the African Union, and international democratic institutions to urgently intervene and restore constitutional order in Rivers State.
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