A coalition of human rights advocates under the Lawyers in Defence of Democracy staged a peaceful protest in Abuja on Wednesday, calling for the immediate restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State.

Led by Barr. Uche Chukwu Udeh Sylvester, the lawyer, decried President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly following the declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.

Lawyers Condemn Emergency Rule, Call It Unconstitutional

During their march to the U.S. Embassy, the group condemned the president’s action, claiming it lacked constitutional backing and threatened Nigeria’s democracy.

“There is no constitutional provision or known convention that empowers the president to dissolve democratically elected structures of a state,” the group stated.

The protesters stressed that there was no justifiable threat or violence in Rivers to warrant an emergency rule. They accused the National Assembly of aiding an “assault on democracy” by endorsing the president’s decision.

Appeal to the U.S. Government

In a letter addressed, though mistakenly, to former U.S. President Donald Trump, the lawyers urged the United States and the international community to pressure President Tinubu to reverse the suspension and restore democratic structures in Rivers State.

“This act is reminiscent of military dictatorship. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, not under martial rule,” the lawyers emphasized.

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Key Demands:

• Immediate reversal of the emergency rule in Rivers State
• Reinstatement of Governor Fubara and the suspended lawmakers
• U.S. government to intervene diplomatically
• The president is to respect constitutional processes and institutions

The protest highlights growing discontent over the federal government’s handling of the Rivers political crisis, which has continued to draw local and international attention.

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