A coalition of legal professionals under the banner Lawyers in Defence of Democracy staged a protest on Wednesday, April 30, calling for the immediate restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State.
Led by their Country Director, Barrister Uche Chukwu Udeh Sylvester, the group criticized what they described as unconstitutional actions by President Bola Tinubu, particularly the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly. The lawyers strongly opposed any declaration of a state of emergency in the state, labeling it a violation of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
In a letter addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump, the group urged the United States and the broader international community to intervene and pressure the Nigerian government to reverse its actions. They characterized the suspension of the governor and the state legislature as an outright attack on constitutional governance and democratic norms.
The group also condemned the National Assembly for endorsing President Tinubu’s actions, calling it a betrayal of democratic principles. They insisted that Governor Fubara, as an elected leader, should be allowed to continue in office without interference.
Part of their letter reads:
In an era where democracy should deliver dividends to the people, we are faced with a moment of reckoning — a time when constitutional order is being challenged in the most brazen manner.
This resembles the actions of military juntas, yet we are supposedly governed by a constitutional democracy with a presidential system.
The President should have allowed state institutions and the judiciary to address the crisis. Even in Osun State, a prolonged dispute over local government administration did not result in a declaration of emergency.
The lawyers emphasized that democratic processes must be respected and warned that undermining them could set a dangerous precedent.
Nobi small thing.