The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has strongly condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by the President, describing it as unconstitutional and ill-thought-out.
The party in a press release e-signed by it’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, expressed shock and concern over the President’s decision, which suspended the democratically elected governor and state parliament.
According to the press release, the President’s action was predicated on prevailing political tension and acts of vandalization of pipelines in the state. However, the party argues that the declaration of a state of emergency is an excessive measure that conflicts with true public interest and amounts to an assault on democracy in the state.
The party contends that the situation in Rivers State does not warrant the declaration of a state of emergency, as there is no breakdown of public order and safety that necessitates such a heavy-handed measure. Instead, the party urges the National Assembly to take a dispassionate look at the matter and deny the President’s action the requisite approval.
The party has pledged its support for the people of Rivers State, urging them to remain calm and trusting that reason will prevail, and democracy will be restored in due course. The party has also called on Nigerians to remain vigilant in safeguarding the country’s hard-earned democracy and to work towards strengthening public institutions and building a good society for all.
In the press release, Aiyenigba quoted Thomas Jefferson, saying, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” The SDP’s condemnation of the state of emergency in Rivers State is a clear indication of the party’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and protecting the rights of Nigerians.
The press release reads in full…
SDP Condemns Action As Unconstitutional And Ill-Thought-Out
The Social Democratic Party, SDP, received with great shock and sense of foreboding, the declaration of a state of emergency in River State, by the President on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, suspending the democratically elected governor and the state parliament.
The president, in his broadcast to the nation, acting on the powers vested in his office as Commander predicated his action on prevailing political tension in the state and due to acts of vandalization of pipelines in the state.
Having taken a critical look at the underlying issues and the reason adduced by the president for the declaration, we have come to the conclusion that the decision is unconstitutional, and not well-thought out in the larger interest of the Nigerian state. Considering that what we have in Rivers is a political crisis, it is an action that conflicts with true public interest and is considered an assault on, and a suspension of democracy in the state, which is at variance with the intendments of the provisions of Section 305 of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as ammended.
As it relates to the River State matter in focus, the declaration of a state of emergency could only be said to be an appropriate measure if there is a breakdown of public order and safety to such an extent that ordinary legal measures are insufficient.
The River State situation is far from what could be termed a breakdown of public order that necessitates this heavy-handed
measure.
We call on the National Assembly to act in true national interest by taking a dispassionate look at this matter, which is of utmost national importance, and deny the action the requiste approval.
As a national political party that prioritises true interest of the country, the SDP stands with the people of Rivers State, particularly in this difficult period, and urges them to remain calm, trusting that reason will prevail, and democracy will be restored in no distant time.
Mindful that the price of liberty, according to Thomas Jefferson, is eternal vigilance, we call on Nigerians to remain steadfast in safeguarding our heard-earned democracy, in the consciousness that democratic consolidation is a task that we must all strongly commit to, while staying united in working to strengthen our public institutions and building a good society in the best interest of all Nigerians.
Signed:
Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, National Publicity Secretary, Social Democratic Party, SDP
