In a defiant display of outrage, a coalition of Nigerian legal professionals—Lawyers in Defence of Democracy—took to the streets this week to protest what they describe as an “unconstitutional coup” in Rivers State. Their action follows the controversial declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara alongside the entire State House of Assembly.
Leading the protest, Barrister Uche Chukwu Udeh Sylvester condemned the federal government’s actions, accusing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of steering the country into authoritarianism. “This is a constitutional ambush,” Sylvester declared. “What we are witnessing is not democracy—it is dictatorship cloaked in legal deceit.”
The lawyers argue that the declaration of emergency in Rivers State is not only unjustified but illegal. They claim the move violates the Nigerian Constitution, which does not empower the president to suspend elected officials without due process. “There was no imminent threat, no breakdown of law and order. This is a calculated political strike,” Sylvester said.
In a symbolic and strategic move, the group wrote to former U.S. President Donald Trump, appealing for international attention and intervention. They called the suspension of the governor and legislative assembly a direct attack on the foundations of democracy in Africa’s most populous nation.
The group also criticized the National Assembly for what they described as “rubber-stamp approval” of the president’s emergency decree. They argued that political disputes, like the one unfolding in Rivers, should be resolved through the judiciary—not by federal force or presidential orders.
“This country has survived crises before—Osun, Ekiti, even Bayelsa. But never did we see a federal government attempt to erase a state’s democratic structures,” Sylvester noted. “This is not governance. It is tyranny in disguise.”
Tensions in Rivers State exploded after months of escalating conflict between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. What began as a power struggle fractured the state assembly, led to a botched impeachment attempt, and sparked violent protests.
On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a six-month state of emergency, citing sabotage of oil infrastructure and a threat to national stability. The decree suspended the governor, his deputy, and the entire assembly—a move many see as politically motivated and legally indefensible.
Legal bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association, have denounced the president’s actions, warning that the constitution does not permit such sweeping federal overreach. Influential voices like former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka have also spoken out, urging restraint and respect for due process.
As the crisis deepens, the lawyers’ protest has become a rallying cry for those defending the rule of law. Their message is clear: Nigeria’s democracy is fragile—and it must not be sacrificed on the altar of political convenience.
