Governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are taking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to the Supreme Court over the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State . The suit, which will be filed this week, challenges the president's decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months.

The PDP governors argue that the president lacks the constitutional power to suspend a democratically elected governor and deputy governor, as well as the state's House of Assembly. They are seeking a declaration from the court that the president's actions are "unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, and utterly in gross violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)".

The governors are also challenging the appointment of Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator for Rivers State, arguing that the president does not have the constitutional power to make such an appointment.

Additionally, the plaintiffs contend that the National Assembly's approval of the state of emergency via a voice vote is invalid, as the constitution requires a two-thirds majority vote from all members of each legislative chamber.

The PDP governors are seeking several reliefs from the court, including:

- *Nullification of the proclamation of a state of emergency* in Rivers State
- *Restraint of the defendant from implementing the unlawful suspension* of the governor and deputy governor of Rivers State
- *Restraint of the defendant from interfering with the execution* of the governor and deputy governor's constitutional and statutory duties
- *Restraint of the defendant from attempting to suspend any other governor* in Nigeria

It remains to be seen whether the governors have the legal standing to institute the suit, but insiders say they are determined to test the law "for the sake of posterity".