The Niger Delta Congress (NDC), a prominent socio-political organization representing the ethnic nationalities of the Niger Delta, has called for widespread protests in Rivers State to oppose the recent suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State Assembly. The suspension, declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, as part of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, has sparked outrage among regional stakeholders who view the move as an assault on democracy and the rights of the Niger Delta people.
In a press statement released on March 23, 2025, the NDC condemned the federal government’s actions, describing the suspension as a “well-orchestrated plot to undermine the democratic will of the people of Rivers State.” The statement, signed by NDC National Spokesperson Mudiaga Ogboru, highlighted the historical marginalization of the Niger Delta, including unremitted revenues, environmental degradation from oil exploration, and the lack of socio-economic development in the region. The NDC called on the people of Rivers State and all Nigerians to join in rejecting what they termed a “military-style imposition” on a democratically elected government.