The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President
Bola Tinubu to immediately reverse the state of emergency imposed in Rivers
State, describing it as unconstitutional and undemocratic.
Speaking at the party’s National Executive Council (NEC)
meeting in Abuja on Thursday, ADC National Chairman, Ralphs Okey Nwosu, also
condemned the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, urging Senate
President Godswill Akpabio to reinstate her.
Nwosu paid tribute to the late elder statesmen, Chief Edwin
Clark and Pa Ayo Adebanjo, stating that their warnings about threats to
democracy in Nigeria had unfortunately come to pass.
“The emergency rule in Rivers State is undemocratic,
unconstitutional, and unacceptable,” Nwosu declared. “We demand the immediate
restoration of the elected government in Rivers State. Additionally, Senator
Akpoti-Uduaghan must be reinstated, and the Senate must apologize to her while
addressing her sexual harassment complaint against its president.”
He criticized the concentration of power in the hands of a
few individuals, stressing that Nigeria’s democracy cannot be hijacked by a
small group at the expense of over 200 million citizens.
“We urge Senator Akpabio and President Tinubu to respect
democratic principles and allow the people to breathe,” he added.
Reflecting on the passing of Clark and Adebanjo, Nwosu said,
“These great leaders foresaw the dangers we face today, yet many ignored their
warnings. The country is grappling with insecurity, hunger, and economic
hardship. It is time to reclaim our democracy and redirect Nigeria toward
progress.”
He reaffirmed ADC’s commitment to mobilizing Nigerians for
political change, stating that millions of citizens disillusioned by the ruling
party are ready to support the ADC’s vision for a better Nigeria.
