Nigerians in U.S. to Protest at White House Over Emergency Rule in Rivers State

A coalition of Nigerian activists in the United States, operating under the Democratic Movement (DM), has announced plans to stage a protest at the White House over the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State. The group is calling on global leaders, including the United Nations and the African Union, to intervene, describing the situation as a direct attack on democracy.

The activists are demanding the reversal of the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu, the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the restoration of the Rivers State House of Assembly. They have also urged former U.S. President Donald Trump to engage with Nigerian authorities and advocate for the immediate restoration of constitutional order.

In a statement signed by the coalition’s president, Cosmos Achief, the group emphasized that the protest aims to draw international attention to what they see as a violation of democratic principles. “We cannot sit back while an elected governor is removed, an entire legislature is suspended, and an unelected administrator is imposed. These are dangerous precedents that threaten Nigeria’s democracy,” Achief stated.

The demonstration is set to take place in Washington, D.C., with protesters marching to the White House and the U.S. Department of State to submit petitions urging international action. “The world needs to see what is happening in Rivers State. A democratically elected government has been suspended under the guise of emergency rule,” the statement added.

Achief also warned that President Tinubu’s actions could have serious diplomatic consequences. “This move is a step toward dictatorship, and Nigeria risks facing international sanctions if democratic principles are not respected,” he said.

The protest is expected to attract members of the Nigerian diaspora, civil rights activists, and pro-democracy supporters who share concerns about governance and political stability in Nigeria.