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Supreme Court’s Emergency Politics: Odinkalu Faults Nigeria’s Apex Court for Expanding Presidential Powers Under Rivers State Emergency Rule
In this incisive opinion, human rights lawyer and scholar Chidi Anselm Odinkalu criticises Nigeria’s Supreme Court over its handling of the Rivers State emergency proclamation declared by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025. Odinkalu argues that despite declining jurisdiction in the case filed by PDP governors, the court went ahead to issue a far-reaching “discussion” that effectively legitimised presidential powers to suspend elected state officials under emergency rule. He describes the ruling as a cynical and political expansion of executive authority, warning that the court’s interpretation undermines federalism, democratic accountability, and constitutional safeguards. According to Odinkalu, the Supreme Court’s actions will have long-lasting consequences for governance and the balance of power in Nigeria.
In this incisive opinion, human rights lawyer and scholar Chidi Anselm Odinkalu criticises Nigeria’s Supreme Court over its handling of the Rivers State emergency proclamation declared by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025. Odinkalu argues that despite declining jurisdiction in the case filed by PDP governors, the court went ahead to issue a far-reaching “discussion” that effectively legitimised presidential powers to suspend elected state officials under emergency rule. He describes the ruling as a cynical and political expansion of executive authority, warning that the court’s interpretation undermines federalism, democratic accountability, and constitutional safeguards. According to Odinkalu, the Supreme Court’s actions will have long-lasting consequences for governance and the balance of power in Nigeria.
Supreme Court’s Emergency Politics: Odinkalu Faults Nigeria’s Apex Court for Expanding Presidential Powers Under Rivers State Emergency Rule
In this incisive opinion, human rights lawyer and scholar Chidi Anselm Odinkalu criticises Nigeria’s Supreme Court over its handling of the Rivers State emergency proclamation declared by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025. Odinkalu argues that despite declining jurisdiction in the case filed by PDP governors, the court went ahead to issue a far-reaching “discussion” that effectively legitimised presidential powers to suspend elected state officials under emergency rule. He describes the ruling as a cynical and political expansion of executive authority, warning that the court’s interpretation undermines federalism, democratic accountability, and constitutional safeguards. According to Odinkalu, the Supreme Court’s actions will have long-lasting consequences for governance and the balance of power in Nigeria.
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