Abuja, July 9, 2025
A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s involvement in the political crisis rocking Rivers State, describing the president’s actions as a “clear violation” of Nigeria’s Constitution.
Nwuke, who represented Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in Rivers State, expressed concern over what he called federal interference in a state matter, particularly Tinubu’s recent peace meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other political actors, which resulted in a controversial agreement seen by many as undermining state legislative authority.
According to the ex-lawmaker, the resolutions reached at the peace parley—reportedly including reinstatement of 27 lawmakers who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the withdrawal of certain state-level decisions—contravened the separation of powers as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
> “The President does not have the powers to impose peace resolutions that infringe on the rights of a duly elected governor or override the State House of Assembly’s functions,” Nwuke stated.
He further argued that the move could set a dangerous precedent where federal authority encroaches on states’ autonomy, which the constitution seeks to preserve under Nigeria’s federal structure.
While the presidency has maintained that its involvement was to maintain peace and prevent further breakdown of law and order in Rivers, critics like Nwuke insist that such interventions must align with constitutional provisions.
The Rivers State political crisis erupted in late 2023 following internal conflicts within the state assembly and a fallout between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the FCT Minister. The tensions have since triggered multiple legal and political disputes.
Nwuke has called on civil society, the judiciary, and constitutional experts to speak out against what he termed “executive overreach,” urging Nigerians to protect the integrity of the country’s democratic institutions.
