Civic group demands end to emergency rule in Rivers

A prominent civil society coalition, Citizens’ Action for Democratic Restoration (CADR), has called on the Federal Government to immediately terminate the emergency rule imposed in Rivers State, warning that the ongoing suspension of democratic structures has plunged the state into political repression and constitutional crisis.

Speaking during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Saturday, CADR’s National President, Dr. Maryleen Ebere Okoro, condemned the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of the state, describing it as a “dangerous abuse of power that undermines Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.”

“The emergency rule may have been declared with good intentions, but the imposition of a sole administrator who has suspended democratic structures, defied court orders, and intimidated peaceful protesters has transformed what was intervention into outright occupation,” Dr. Okoro stated.

She decried the absence of legislative oversight, the erosion of the rule of law, and what she called “unilateral governance without legal basis,” pointing to a wave of troubling developments since the March 18 declaration of emergency rule.

READ ALSO: Explosion linked to illegal petroleum products kills five, injures many in Rivers

CADR accused the federal government of turning Rivers State into what it called a “federally-backed dictatorship,” warning that continued emergency rule would escalate instability and deepen public resentment in the already volatile oil-producing state.

“Local councils are being filled with handpicked loyalists. Rivers State has become a dictatorship under federal cover, and Nigerians are watching in disbelief,” Okoro said.

She also condemned the use of security forces to suppress demonstrators:

“When women carrying placards are tear-gassed, it is no longer about peacekeeping. It becomes state-sponsored repression. We cannot build unity on the foundation of fear.”

CADR emphasized that the crisis could have been resolved through stakeholder engagement, involving civil society, elected officials, and traditional rulers. Instead, it said, the government opted for a military-style takeover that disregards judicial rulings and democratic norms.

Dr. Okoro called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently rescind the emergency order, reinstate suspended officials, and initiate a peace process grounded in Nigeria’s constitutional framework.

“Our message is clear. The administrator must go. The emergency rule must end. Nigerians did not fight for democracy only to be ruled by decree again. Enough is enough.”

The group warned that allowing Ibas to remain in power under emergency provisions could set a precedent that threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions nationwide.