The Federal Government has officially received the suit filed by 11 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
A source at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorisation, confirmed to reporters on Wednesday that the suit had been served on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
“They have served the HAGF with the suit,” the source stated in response to an inquiry.
The 11 PDP governors, representing Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa States, approached the Supreme Court to challenge the President’s constitutional authority to suspend an elected state government structure.
While earlier media reports had suggested that the suit had already been filed, it exclusively reported that the suit was only filed late Tuesday.
The Federal Government was given 14 days to file a response to the suit.
The suit questions the legality of President Tinubu’s March 18 proclamation, which declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for an initial six-month period.
Following the suspension, President Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Sole Administrator to oversee the affairs of the state during the period of emergency rule.
