Nothing to cheer about – Atiku insists Fubara’s suspension illegal

 Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has condemned President Bola Tinubus decision to suspend and later reinstate Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly, describing the move as unconstitutional and illegal. In a statement posted Thursday, September 18 on his official X account, Atiku argued that there was no reason to celebrate the lifting of the suspension, as the action itself had no legal foundation. Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about. The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today, he wrote. He further stressed that President Tinubu lacked the authority under Nigerias constitution to suspend democratically elected leaders, warning that such actions were dangerous for the countrys democracy. President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration, Atiku added.  Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about. The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today. President Tinubu had no power to suspend a Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) September 18, 2025   His remarks come just a day after President Tinubu announced the lifting of the state of emergency in Rivers and directed Governor Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the House of Assembly to resume office on Thursday, September 18. The development marks another chapter in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, which has fueled widespread debate over constitutional powers and the limits of executive authority in Nigeria.