“You Are Meddlesome Interlopers,” National Assembly Tells 11 PDP States Over Rivers Emergency

The National Assembly has slammed 11 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led states for challenging the state of emergency in Rivers State, branding them “meddlesome interlopers” in a scathing response filed before the Supreme Court. The Assembly argued that the states—Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara—lacked the legal standing to contest a matter that does not directly affect them more than the people of Rivers State.

The federal legislature further asked the Supreme Court to either strike out or dismiss the suit, demanding a N1 billion cost against the plaintiffs for what it described as a speculative, vexatious, and frivolous action. It contended that the approval of the state of emergency was constitutionally valid, having met the required two-thirds majority in both chambers through voice votes.

According to the National Assembly’s filing, “The plaintiffs are complete meddlesome interlopers and lack the standing in law to institute this suit, especially against the second defendant.” It argued that the plaintiffs neither obtained prior resolutions from their respective Houses of Assembly nor issued the required pre-action notices, both of which are mandatory for instituting the suit under the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction.

The Assembly also rejected any attempt to challenge its use of voice votes in ratifying the emergency, saying such interference would violate the principle of separation of powers and hinder its constitutional authority.

Meanwhile, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), in a meeting with the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight, described the state’s current stability as “fragile” and called for caution. He expressed regret for missing earlier invitations but assured full cooperation going forward, stressing the complexity of the transitional period.

Chairman of the oversight committee, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, reiterated the National Assembly’s role in legitimising the emergency, saying, “It’s only that approval that gives life to the state of emergency.” He also noted that the committee had already communicated its terms to the administrator and would announce a new date for the rescheduled hearing.

Elsewhere, former Rivers Deputy Speaker Marshall Stanley-Uwom filed a separate suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to halt further federal allocations to the state’s local governments. He argued that allocations were being released illegally to unelected caretaker committees appointed by Ibas, in violation of constitutional provisions.

The suit names the President, National Assembly, Senate, Speaker, and other key federal institutions as defendants, and challenges the legality of the emergency proclamation itself, claiming it lapsed without National Assembly ratification.

In Port Harcourt, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike weighed in on the political crisis, warning suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara that protests won’t restore peace. “No amount of naked protests can bring peace,” Wike said at a church event. “What can bring peace is for you to humble yourself and say, for the interest of the state, I want everybody to work together.”

Wike also criticised traditional rulers and state leaders for taking sides in the conflict, saying genuine peace required the inclusion of all stakeholders, including both political parties and the national and state assemblies.