A coalition of public interest lawyers has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to compel President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State due to escalating insecurity and a breakdown of legislative functions in the state.
The legal action, filed on July 8, 2025, with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1363/2025, was instituted by Reuben Boma Esq., Okoro Nwadiegwu Esq., and the Incorporated Trustees of One Love Foundation. The suit names the President, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney General of Zamfara State, and the State Governor as respondents.
The plaintiffs contend that the prevailing security crisis in Zamfara, coupled with the paralysis of the state’s legislature, has created a constitutional vacuum warranting immediate federal intervention. They referenced Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to declare a state of emergency when there is a clear threat to public order, safety, or governance.
Citing the suspension of 10 members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, which has rendered the legislative arm non-functional, the lawyers argue that the National Assembly should invoke Section 11(4) of the Constitution to assume the legislative duties of the state assembly until order is restored.
They prayed the court to declare the security situation and legislative impasse as sufficient grounds for emergency rule, possibly extending to the suspension or removal of the Governor and Deputy Governor if necessary to restore effective governance.
The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the case. The outcome is expected to set a significant precedent on federal authority and constitutional intervention in sub-national governance breakdowns in Nigeria.