A Rivers State-based civic organisation, Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative, has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately reverse the purported emergency rule declared in the state.
In an open letter signed by its Executive Director, Courage Nsirimovu, the group also criticised a controversial regulation allegedly titled Emergency Powers (Conduct of Local Government Council Elections and Local Government Election Tribunal Proceedings) Regulations, 2025. The regulation is said to grant sweeping powers to the state’s sole administrator, including the authority to appoint the chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC)—a role traditionally reserved for the legislative process.
Nsirimovu argued that such appointments fall under the jurisdiction of the state’s lawmaking framework and cannot be delegated via emergency powers.
The group’s appeal follows the circulation of an unverified document—Official Gazette No. 125, Lagos, dated July 22, 2025—which has gone viral on social media. The document reportedly suspends Section 2(2) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018 and transfers RSIEC appointment powers to the state’s sole administrator. It also allegedly authorises the administrator to adjudicate electoral petitions and legal proceedings within the designated “emergency area.”
As of press time, neither the Presidency, the National Assembly, nor the Rivers State Government has confirmed the authenticity of the document or responded to the claims raised in the letter.
