Lagos, Nigeria – The Socialist Labour movement has strongly condemned the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a “civilian coup” by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The group argues that the move has dismantled democratic structures, suspended elected officials, and undermined the principles of federalism and constitutional governance.
In a press statement signed by Dr. Izielen Agbon and Dr. James Uanhoro, Socialist Labour accused the Tinubu administration of operating outside the rule of law by imposing military rule under a sole administrator. The group claims that the emergency rule has effectively sidelined democratic mechanisms such as judicial review, parliamentary oversight, and public protest.
According to the statement, the National Assembly has failed to act as an independent body, instead rubber-stamping the president’s decision without meaningful debate. “The two houses of the National Assembly ratified the state of emergency through a voice vote in closed sessions, disregarding constitutional requirements,” the statement read. “Even opposition lawmakers failed to resist the illegal suspension of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and State House of Assembly members.”
Socialist Labour acknowledged statements from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), civil society groups, and labor unions such as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which have condemned the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State. However, the group argued that issuing statements is not enough.
“The trade unions have the power to defeat the Tinubu regime just as they did with El-Rufai in Kaduna in May 2022,” the statement asserted. “We need to organize better to push the labor movement into action.”
The group called for mass mobilization, urging the NBA, civil society organizations, and trade unions to take direct collective action until constitutional order is restored.
“The time for polite appeals and demands is over,” Socialist Labour declared. “Only collective mass action can stop this civilian coup from spreading to other states and address the broader issues of poverty, inequality, and corruption that plague Nigeria.”
As tensions rise over the state of emergency in Rivers State, the call for mass action is likely to intensify debates on the government’s handling of democracy and governance.
