Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is currently holding a world press conference alongside Peter Obi and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai to address the unfolding political crisis in Rivers State.
The conference comes in response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as interim administrator.
Atiku and his counterparts are expected to express their stance on the legality of Tinubu’s decision and its broader implications for Nigeria’s democracy. The suspension of an elected governor has sparked widespread debate, with opposition leaders, legal experts, and civil society groups questioning the constitutional basis of the move.
Sources indicate that Atiku, Obi, and El-Rufai will use the platform to call for immediate action to restore democratic governance in Rivers State. The trio is also expected to address concerns about the use of federal military forces in what some critics describe as a “politically motivated takeover.”
Meanwhile, tension remains high in Rivers State, where heavily armed soldiers have reportedly taken control of the Government House, preventing Governor Fubara and his family from leaving the premises. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the action, warning that emergency rule does not justify the removal of an elected governor.
As the crisis deepens, all eyes are on Atiku and other opposition leaders as they outline their position on the unfolding political drama. The press conference is being streamed live and is expected to shape the discourse on Nigeria’s democratic future.
