Updated: Tinubu reacts as Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, others form coalition 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he has formed a coalition with some prominent opposition leaders aimed at unseating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027.

Atiku made the declaration during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, attended by several opposition politicians, including former key members of the All Progressives Congress who have since defected.

But the Tinubu-led administration has reacted saying the coalition was driven by hate and not genuine.

The event was convened to address President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Among those present at the event were the 2023 Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who was represented by Dr Yunusa Tanko; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal; and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

Others are a former governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi; former Director General of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr Salihu Lukman; Alhaji Adamu Maina Waziri, Chief Peter Ameh and Soni Monidafe, among others.

When asked whether the emerging coalition would serve as the main opposition against the APC in the 2027 elections, Atiku said, “Yes, this is the birth of the coalition of opposition ahead of 2027.”

Many are wondering how leaders with differing ideologies, ambitions, and party affiliations can work together.

In his reaction, spokesperson for the Tinubu-led government, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement referred to the Abubakar-led coalition as “the coalition of Tinubu haters.”

“They are not politicians after the public good. It’s all about their self-interest. They are disgruntled. They are a frustrated lot. The leaders are sore losers. The coalition is an amalgam of Tinubu haters. Their agenda is to stop Tinubu,” Onanuga said.

The presidential spokesperson added that Tinubu remained focused on governance and would not be distracted by a coalition of politicians driven by selfish interests.

Senate, Reps okay President Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Thursday separately approved President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of the state of emergency in Rivers State.

They however mandated a review of the situation at any time, but not later than six months.

The National Assembly also imposed a joint committee of both chambers to oversee the administration of affairs in Rivers State during the emergency period.

The Senate resolved to establish a mediation committee consisting of eminent Nigerians to help resolve the state’s political crisis.

The House of Representatives was the first to approve the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.

In a voice vote, the lawmakers backed Tinubu’s decision, two days after the President made the move.

A total of 240 House of Representative members attended the preliminary which was presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

While deliberating on the decision, the House made some amendments including that a committee of eminent Nigerians would be set up to mediate on the matter.

They also noted that the National Assembly is empowered to make law for a state where its house of assembly is unable to perform its functions.

This contradicts the Federal Government’s plan for the Federal Executive Council to take up that duty.

On Tuesday, President Tinubu wielded the big stick in Rivers, declaring a state of emergency in the state.

He also suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months and appointed a sole administrator to take charge of the state.

Legal experts, governors, and prominent Nigerians including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi to have condemned the proclamation, demanding a reversal.

However, the Federal Government has doubled down on Tinubu’s decision and argued that it was needed to bring peace to the oil-rich state.

Emergency rule cannot stand in Rivers, says Amaechi, mobilises against Tinubu

Ex-Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi has begun a mobilisation of leaders including lawmakers against the imposition of the state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu.

Amaechi who contested the presidential primary and lost to Tinubu in the last election said the suspension of Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara from office was an illegal power grab by the President mm.

He gave this reaction in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Amaechi strongly condemned the President’s action as a truncation of democracy in Rivers State, describing it as “undemocratic, unconstitutional, and a brazen violation of Nigeria’s Constitution.”

He went on to call on the National Assembly, state governors, and stakeholders to reject the “illegal power grab,” under the guise of the state of emergency.

The former Minister of Transportation argued that President Tinubu had overstepped his constitutional authority by suspending elected state officials. Citing Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, he emphasized that a governor can only be removed through a clearly defined impeachment process, not by presidential decree.

“With this singular move, Mr. President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State. This clearly violates our Constitution, the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr. President swore to uphold,” Amaechi stated.

Amaechi further questioned Tinubu’s use of Section 305, which allows the President to declare a state of emergency, arguing that it does not grant him the power to “dissolve elected arms of government.”

He accused certain forces of orchestrating a political takeover in the state.

He urged governors, lawmakers, and Nigerians across political divides to resist the “audacious violation of democracy.”

“At this inauspicious moment in our nation’s trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution and rape of our democracy.

“Mr. President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand,” he stated.