From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Former member of the House of Representatives, Farah Dagogo, has said he would not back down on his suit challenging the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Dagogo, who spoke through a member of his legal team, Babafemi Adegbite, told journalists in Abuja that he was committed to pursuing his suit to a logical conclusion.
President Bola Tinubu had declared an emergency rule in Rivers State last March in response to the political crisis in the state. President Tinubu, in addition, suspended the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the state House of Assembly and appointed Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as sole administrator.
However, the former lawmaker, who faulted President Tinubu’s actions on the emergency rule, filed a suit before the Federal High Court challenging the President’s action.
He explained that “this suit was initially filed at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, but it was later transferred to Abuja under circumstances we will address at the appropriate time. What is most important is that we are determined to ventilate our client’s constitutional grievances before the court and obtain judgment based on law and democratic principles.
“Our contention is that the President acted ultra vires the Constitution by suspending a democratically elected government and appointing an unelected administrator. This was further endorsed by the National Assembly, which, rather than act as a check, became complicit in undermining democratic governance.
“This is a grave constitutional matter, and we are resolute in pursuing it to its logical conclusion for the sake of democratic integrity and posterity.”