Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned the unfolding political turmoil in Rivers State, calling it a blatant attack on Nigeria’s constitutional order and a dangerous precedent for the country’s democracy.
Obi, in a strongly worded statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, slammed the alleged defiance of a Supreme Court ruling, accusing the federal government and key institutions of disregarding judicial authority by releasing state allocations to a handpicked Sole Administrator rather than a legally recognized House of Assembly.
“What we are witnessing in Rivers State is a brazen disobedience and disregard for the rule of law and our democratic principles,” Obi said. “The decision to release statutory allocations to an appointed Sole Administrator, despite a standing order of the Supreme Court, is not just unlawful — it is a direct challenge to the authority of the highest court of our country.”
His criticism comes amid accusations that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) have ignored a Supreme Court directive barring them from disbursing state funds until a legally constituted legislature passes an Appropriation Act.
“This raises serious moral questions about what is happening in Rivers State,” Obi stated, warning that this defiance could plunge the country into deeper constitutional chaos.
He also accused government institutions of enabling lawlessness and warned that undermining the judiciary could erode Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
“A country cannot function where the rule of law is trampled upon, where the separation of powers is disregarded, and where judicial decisions are treated as mere suggestions,” he cautioned.
Obi’s comments add to growing tensions surrounding Rivers State’s political crisis, with critics alleging that the situation is a calculated move to consolidate federal control over the state. As fears of a full-blown constitutional standoff mount, Obi’s remarks signal an escalating battle over governance, legality, and the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
