The National Assembly has berated the eleven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled states for challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing them as “meddlesome interlopers” with no legal standing to file such a suit....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
In a counter-affidavit filed at the Supreme Court, the National Assembly contended that the PDP states — Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba, and Zamfara — failed to demonstrate how the emergency proclamation directly impacts them more than it does the people of Rivers State.
“The plaintiffs are complete meddlesome interlopers and lack the standing in law to institute this suit, especially against the second defendant,” the Assembly stated.
The suit, marked SC/329/2025, lists the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Assembly as defendants. The PDP states, acting through their respective Attorneys-General, are seeking to nullify the emergency proclamation and prevent further legislative approval of such measures.
The National Assembly maintained that it had followed due process, asserting that the emergency rule was duly ratified using the voice vote method in accordance with constitutional provisions.
“There is nothing that makes voice vote in the circumstance of the ratification or approval of the State of Emergency (Rivers State) Proclamation, 2025 unconstitutional,” the Assembly argued. “The Houses of the National Assembly by voice votes, approved and ratified the Proclamation… having met the mandatory constitutional prescription of more than two-third majority.”
It further warned that issuing an injunction to restrain the legislature from performing its constitutional duties would violate the doctrine of separation of powers.
The Assembly also argued that the plaintiffs failed to serve the required three-month pre-action notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly and did not secure resolutions from their respective state Houses of Assembly authorizing them to bring the suit — violations it says render the case procedurally defective.
Describing the suit as “speculative, unfounded, frivolous and a vexatious waste of resources,” the National Assembly urged the court to dismiss it and award costs of N1 billion jointly and severally against the plaintiffs.
It also filed a preliminary objection, restating its position that the suit lacks merit and should be struck out.
Meanwhile, speaking during a meeting with the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), acknowledged that while the state was relatively calm, the situation remained fragile.
Ibas was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in March following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials.