Eleven governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the subsequent suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the state's House of Assembly. The suit also contests the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator of the state. ​

The plaintiffs in the suit, marked SC/CV/329/2025, include the governments of Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa states. They are seeking the Supreme Court's determination on whether the President has the constitutional authority to suspend democratically elected officials and replace them with an unelected sole administrator under the guise of a state of emergency.

The governors argue that the declaration of emergency rule and the suspension of elected officials violate several sections of the 1999 Constitution, specifically Sections 1(2), 4(6), 5(2), 11(4) & (5), 90, 105, 176, 180, 188, and 305.

The filing of the suit was confirmed by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande. ​

This legal challenge follows President Tinubu's March 18, 2025, declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing months of intense political instability and crisis that had paralyzed governance and threatened national stability. The President's action led to the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state's House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

The Supreme Court's decision on this matter is anticipated to have significant implications for the interpretation of presidential powers and the autonomy of state governments under the Nigerian Constitution.