By Ghazali Ibrahim 
A coalition of opposition leaders, including PDP 2023 presidential flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has launched a movement aimed at ending President Bola Tinubu’s rule come 2027.
The coalition, which includes other prominent politicians, condemned President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it “unlawful” and “a clear subversion of democracy.”
Other opposition leaders present at the press conference included former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties Peter Ahmeh, and Convenor of the Alternative Segun Showunmi, among others.
In a surprising turn of events, some former associates of President Tinubu appear to have also joined the new coalition. This include the former governor of Ekiti state, Kayode Fayemi who days ago released a statement that he remains a member of the ruling APC. Supposedly joining Fayemi is the former Governor of Rivers state and two-term minister under President Muhammadu Buhari, Rotimi Amaechi who was also unveiled to be a part of the new force. They are joined by Abdullahi Adamu, former Governor of Nassarawa who is also the former National chairman of the APC.
The trio of Fayemi, Amaechi and Adamu were said to have been regrettably absent at the press conference but their apologies were announced at the gathering.
Atiku, who read a statement on behalf of the coalition, urged Nigerians to resist this “brazen assault” on the country’s constitution and democratic institutions.
“We have come together to address the dangerous and unconstitutional actions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on March 18, 2025 – to wit, the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State and the illegal suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and the State House of Assembly,” Atiku said.
“This action is not only unlawful but also a clear subversion of democracy and imposition of autocratic federal control over a duly elected state government.”
The coalition argued that the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was unconstitutional, as it did not meet the requirements outlined in Section 305 of the Constitution.
Atiku emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution does not empower the President to remove an elected Governor, Deputy Governor, or State Assembly under any circumstances.
“The procedure for removing a Governor is clearly outlined in Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) through an impeachment process initiated by the State House of Assembly – not by presidential proclamation or arbitrary pronouncement,” Atiku said.
The coalition called for the immediate reversal of the proclamation, the rejection of the declaration by the National Assembly, and judicial intervention to strike down the proclamation.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately revoke this unconstitutional proclamation and reinstate the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State Assembly of Rivers State,” Atiku said.
“We call on patriotic Senators and Representatives to vote against this illegal action when it comes before them for approval.”
The coalition also urged the judiciary to act swiftly in striking down the proclamation, as it sets a dangerous precedent that could be used to arbitrarily remove any Governor in the future.
