In a strongly-worded open letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has raised serious constitutional and democratic concerns over the ongoing State of Emergency in Rivers State, warning that the situation threatens both Nigeria’s democratic integrity and its standing in the international community.
The letter, signed by PANDEF’s National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, lauded the Speaker for constituting an Adhoc Committee to oversee the crisis but made it clear that the forum views the situation in Rivers as a dangerous deviation from democratic norms.
“We must reiterate our firm position that the appointment of the Administrator is not only a constitutional aberration but also a serious dent on Nigeria’s democratic image,” the letter stated, accusing the federal authorities of overstepping constitutional boundaries in a state where, in PANDEF’s words, “not even a fly has been harmed.”
The open letter did not shy away from criticizing the actions of the imposed Administrator, whose governance style, according to PANDEF, has been marked by “the arbitrary dissolution of duly constituted democratic institutions, followed by rather whimsical and capricious reconstitution of same.” PANDEF warned that this troubling pattern undermines fiscal transparency and governance integrity, citing the unilateral cancellation of procurement processes and the controversial appointment of Sole Administrators for local councils and heads of government agencies.
“It would not be surprising, therefore, if he proceeds in due course to appoint Permanent Secretaries of his own choosing,” Igali warned, suggesting a creeping authoritarianism under the guise of emergency powers.
The letter also subtly rebuked the federal government for failing to leverage the capable Rivers State civil service as an institutional stabilizer during the political crisis, referencing how former Presidents Buhari and Tinubu both relied on the federal civil service to manage national affairs pending ministerial appointments. “This practice is also mirrored in many of the 36 states,” it added, implying that Rivers State should not be treated differently.
Perhaps the most damning section of the letter came in its final recommendation, urging the Adhoc Committee to go beyond passive oversight and actively facilitate the political restoration of the state’s ousted leadership. “The restoration of democracy in the state, most importantly through the reinstatement of its duly elected governor, is a mission of national importance—one that must be accomplished without delay,” PANDEF declared.
This open letter marks one of the most direct and public indictments yet of the federal government’s handling of the Rivers State situation. It highlights widespread fears within the South-South geopolitical zone that the ongoing crisis could escalate into a dangerous precedent for democratic governance in Nigeria.
While PANDEF commended the Speaker for his efforts, it made it unmistakably clear that constitutional order must be restored — and quickly.
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