Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has strongly criticized the political situation in Rivers State, calling it a violation of Nigeria’s constitutional order. He raised concerns over the alleged disobedience of a Supreme Court ruling regarding the release of statutory allocations to an appointed sole administrator instead of a legally constituted legislative body.
Obi shared his thoughts in a statement on Monday via his official X account. He described the situation as a direct challenge to the authority of the Supreme Court and a disregard for democratic principles.
“What we are witnessing in Rivers State is a brazen disobedience and disregard for the rule of law and our democratic principles. The decision to release statutory allocations to an appointed Sole Administrator, despite a standing order of the Supreme Court, is not just unlawful — it is a direct challenge to the authority of the highest court of our country,” Obi said.
He noted that the Supreme Court had barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from disbursing these funds until a legally recognized House of Assembly passed an Appropriation Act. However, despite this directive, reports suggest that the funds were still released.
“The Supreme Court had explicitly barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) from releasing these funds until a properly constituted House of Assembly passes a valid Appropriation Act. Yet, we see a situation where this order is being ignored. This raises serious moral questions about what is happening in Rivers State,” Obi stated.
He warned that ignoring judicial rulings could have long-term consequences for Nigeria’s democracy. He urged institutions like the CBN and AGF to uphold the law and not participate in actions that violate court decisions.
Obi further noted that the issue goes beyond Rivers State, stating that continued disregard for judicial authority could weaken the country’s democratic foundation. He called on leaders to respect the judiciary and uphold constitutional values to prevent further damage to the nation’s governance system.
“If we continue this way, we are undermining the future of our democracy. We must choose to do the right thing—to respect the law and uphold the principles that bind us as a nation,” he said.
