The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed strong concern over the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the President’s authority to declare a state of emergency and suspend elected officials, cautioning that the interpretation of the ruling could pose serious risks to Nigeria’s democratic system.
Reacting to the judgment, the opposition party acknowledged the supremacy and finality of the apex court but emphasized that its apprehension lies in how the ruling may be applied in practice. According to the PDP, the decision, if broadly interpreted, could open the door for excessive executive control over federating states, undermining the principles of constitutional democracy and federalism.
In a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the PDP warned that construing the judgment as granting the President the power to suspend or remove elected Governors, Deputy Governors, or State Houses of Assembly—even on a temporary basis—sets a dangerous precedent. The party maintained that under the Constitution, the removal of a Governor during their tenure can only be effected by the State House of Assembly through impeachment or by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The PDP argued that allowing emergency powers to be used in such a manner could enable a sitting President, potentially with the backing of the National Assembly, to pressure or coerce state governments into political compliance. According to the party, this would create an unhealthy political environment where emergency declarations become tools for enforcing alignment with the federal government, rather than mechanisms strictly reserved for restoring peace and order.
Further expressing its fears, the PDP cautioned that the ruling could erode what it described as Nigeria’s “hard-earned democratic progress.” The party claimed that state governments may gradually become overly dependent on the federal center, compelled to seek political protection or relevance by joining the ruling party—an emerging pattern it said is already evident in the country’s political space.
The opposition party also raised alarm over what it described as a troubling extension of the court’s reasoning, particularly with reference to Section 305(3)(c) of the Constitution, which permits extraordinary measures during emergencies. The PDP warned that if left unchecked, such interpretations could eventually be used to justify the suspension of other key democratic institutions, including the judiciary, thereby weakening the entire constitutional order.
“We find it difficult to reconcile how, in a federal system rather than a unitary one, an elected President could be empowered to dismantle the democratic structures of a federating unit, remove elected leaders, and install replacements without fostering authoritarian tendencies and entrenching tyranny,” the party stated.
Reaffirming its commitment to democratic consolidation, the PDP called on the National Assembly to urgently introduce constitutional and legislative measures that clearly define and restrict the scope of presidential emergency powers. The party stressed that such safeguards are necessary to prevent potential abuse and to preserve the balance of power envisioned by the Constitution.
The PDP also appealed to Nigerians, civil society organizations, the media, and the international democratic community to remain alert and proactive in defending constitutionalism, federalism, and the sanctity of the electoral mandate.
Despite its concerns, the party expressed optimism that the Supreme Court would, in future rulings, provide clearer guidance on the limits and application of emergency powers, in a manner that strengthens democracy and ensures long-term political stability in Nigeria.
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