Abuse of Executive Power: No President Can Suspend an Elected Governor, Says Dr. Odje

By Wilson Macaulay In the wake of the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State, legal luminary and constitutional expert, Dr. Akpo Mudiaga Odje, has categorically stated that no elected president has the constitutional authority to suspend an elected governor. He argued that such an action lacks legal backing and sets a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy. Dr. Odje, in his constitutional analysis, drew parallels between the current situation in Rivers State and the controversial state of emergency declared in Plateau State during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. He noted that in that instance, then-Governor Joshua Dariye challenged the proclamation at the Supreme Court. However, the court never delivered a ruling on the legality of the president’s action, as the appointed sole administrator, Gen. Chris Alli, withdrew Dariye’s case, despite his objections. According to Dr. Odje, Obasanjo’s legal justification for the move was based on the Emergency ...