Emergency Rule: What S’Court’s judgement means is Tinubu now has the right to suspend 36 Govs-Kenneth Okonkwo

According to Channels tv, Actor and political commentator Kenneth Okonkwo has sparked intense national debate with his reaction to a recent Supreme Court judgement, warning that it could open the door for a dangerous expansion of presidential powers under the guise of emergency rule. According to Okonkwo, the implication of the judgement is that the President may now have the constitutional backing to suspend not just one governor, but potentially all 36 state governors in Nigeria if emergency conditions are declared.

Speaking from a constitutional and political standpoint, Okonkwo argued that the ruling, if not carefully interpreted and constrained, risks upsetting Nigeria’s federal structure. He warned that emergency rule, which is meant to be an exceptional and temporary measure, could become a powerful political weapon in the hands of an overreaching executive. “What this judgement means is that the President now has the right to suspend 36 governors,” Okonkwo stated, stressing that such a possibility should alarm every Nigerian who values democracy.

He explained that Nigeria’s federal system is built on the autonomy of states, with governors elected directly by the people. Suspending them en masse, or even selectively for political reasons, would amount to overriding the will of voters. Okonkwo cautioned that while emergency powers exist to restore order during extreme crises such as war or total breakdown of law and order, they must never be used as tools for political control or intimidation.

Okonkwo also questioned the safeguards around the use of emergency rule, noting that vague definitions of “emergency” could be exploited. He argued that if insecurity, economic hardship, or civil unrest are broadly interpreted, almost any state could be placed under emergency rule at any time. This, he said, would effectively weaken governors, turn states into extensions of the federal executive, and centralize power in a way Nigeria’s constitution never intended.

Supporters of the judgement, however, argue that Okonkwo’s interpretation is exaggerated. They insist that emergency powers are still subject to constitutional checks, including legislative approval and judicial oversight. According to this view, the President cannot arbitrarily suspend governors without meeting strict legal conditions.

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