The Center For Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has called on the National Assembly to review the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement signed by the State Director of CHRAN, Otuekong Franklyn Isong and the Secretary, Barr. Christopher Ekpo, the group described the development as a threat to the country’s democracy.
The Centre insisted that the suspension of the State Governor, Deputy Governor and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, “who were democratically elected for a four-year tenure by the people of Rivers State was unconstitutional, undemocratic and extremely posing a threat to the hard-earned democracy in Nigeria”.
The Centre stated that declaring a State of Emergency in Rivers State was a ploy to impose military rule, stressing that it would not condone such imposition.
“The CHRAN believes that the President’s action violates Section 1(2), Section 11, Section 188 and Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“The CHRAN rejects the imposition of military rule in Rivers State under the guise of a State of Emergency and calls on the President to be more dispassionate in seeking to resolve the crisis in Rivers State.
“The Center urges the National Assembly, to as a matter of urgency, review the declaration by the President of a State of Emergency in Rivers State which is a threat to the nation’s democracy,” the statement said.
