Eleven governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have filed a suit at the Supreme Court challenging President Bola Tinubu’s powers to suspend a democratically elected state government. The suit also contests the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the appointment of a sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.

This legal action, confirmed by the Supreme Court’s Director of Information, Dr. Festus Akande, was officially filed on Tuesday and seeks clarity on the constitutionality of Tinubu’s actions.

The PDP governors — from Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa — want the apex court to determine if the President has the legal authority to suspend a sitting governor and house of assembly under the guise of a state of emergency.

In March, President Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers House of Assembly, appointing Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator for six months — a move backed by the National Assembly.

Filed under suit number SC/CV/329/2025, the governors argue that Tinubu’s actions violate several provisions of the 1999 Constitution and undermine Nigeria’s federal structure.

Despite earlier reports of the suit, it was not officially filed until this week. Ministry of Justice sources confirmed they had not been served with court papers until recently, though they had begun preparing a response.

The legal challenge follows weeks of speculation about how the PDP governors would respond to what they deem unconstitutional interference in Rivers State’s governance.