The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a strong critique against the Supreme Court of Nigeria regarding its recent judgment on the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. In a statement released on Monday, December 15, 2025, the leading opposition party expressed deep concern, warning that the prevailing interpretation of the court's decision poses a significant danger to the nation's democratic order and federal structure.
Why the Supreme Court Struck Out the PDP Suit
The legal challenge originated from a suit filed by Adamawa State and ten other states under the control of the PDP. They contested the propriety of the state of emergency declared by President Tinubu in Rivers State earlier this year, a move that led to the suspension of elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, for a period of six months.
The Supreme Court ultimately struck out the suit due to the absence of a cause of action. Crucially, the apex court did not make a definitive pronouncement on the substantive constitutional issues raised by the plaintiffs regarding the president's powers.
The PDP's Core Argument and Public Reaction
Despite the case being struck out on technical grounds, the PDP argues that comments within the lead majority judgment, delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris, have been widely interpreted as affirming the president's declaration. The party highlighted that Justice Idris referenced Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowers the president to deploy extraordinary measures to restore normalcy during an emergency.
The judgment noted that this section does not specify the nature of these extraordinary measures, thereby granting the president considerable discretion. The PDP fears this sets a dangerous precedent that could be abused to undermine opposition state governments.
The party's statement has ignited a wave of reactions from Nigerians across social media and public discourse.
Mixed Public Sentiment on the Ruling
Public opinion appears divided. Some citizens share the PDP's apprehension. For instance, a comment from Tamim Garba suggested, "With this power, the president can easily remove all opposition governors, then they will have no choice but to join APC just like Fubara did."
Others defended the court's position, with one individual named T.M. stating, "I am not a fan of Mr President, but declaring a state of emergency is not new in Nigeria; other past presidents declared the same state of emergency." Another commenter, Emmanuel Ogar, criticized the PDP's stance as misleading, accusing the party of rushing to mislead the public without proper research.
The PDP's forceful reaction underscores the ongoing political tensions in Nigeria and the high-stakes legal battles surrounding the balance of power between the federal government and the states. The party insists that the interpretation of the Supreme Court's comments could erode foundational democratic principles if not carefully scrutinized.
