Rivers State Crisis: CSOs Petition UN to Sanction Nigeria Over “Crass Usurpation of Democracy”
A coalition of 24 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria has taken a bold step to the global stage, filing a petition with the United Nations over what they describe as the “crass usurpation of democratic structures” in Rivers State by the Nigerian government.
In a strongly worded document submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee in New York, and separately to UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Margaret Satterthwaite, the coalition accused President Bola Tinubu of undermining democracy in the oil-rich Niger Delta state.
The petition, signed by Egondu Esinwoke (Convener) and Courage Nsirimovu (Coordinator), called for urgent international intervention, warning that Nigeria risks breaching its commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
“Restore Democracy or Sanction Nigeria”
The CSOs urged the UN to take the following actions:
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Prevail on President Tinubu to immediately restore democratic governance in Rivers State.
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Impose sanctions on Nigeria for allegedly defaulting on its democratic obligations.
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Advise the Nigerian president to operate strictly within constitutional limits.
They argued that recent political developments in Rivers State represent a severe threat to the rule of law and freedom of expression, accusing the Nigerian military of intimidation and suppression of peaceful assembly and protest.
“Officials of a democratic government are being forced to resign or illegally removed, while citizens can’t exercise their right to protest,” the CSOs stated.
Wike, the Judiciary, and Allegations of Influence
The coalition also raised red flags over the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, citing alleged improper ties with the judiciary. They referenced commentary from Chidi Odinkalu, a respected Nigerian human rights lawyer now based in the U.S., who criticized what he termed a “perverse” Supreme Court ruling in the political crisis involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state assembly.
The CSOs claim this judgment laid the foundation for an unconstitutional declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu—who, they allege, is using Wike to maintain political control in Rivers State for personal electoral gain.
A Call for UN Investigation into the Judiciary
The group urged the UN Special Rapporteur to launch an independent investigation into Nigeria’s judiciary, asserting that the legal system has become “a political tool for the bourgeoisie,” eroding public trust in the courts as the last hope of the common man.
Global Accountability or Domestic Fallout?
The petition, titled “Petition Against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the National Assembly for the Crass Usurpation of Democratic Structures in Rivers State and Ostentatious Desecration of the Nigerian Constitution”, accuses the government of violating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international democratic norms.
With tensions in Rivers State intensifying and international attention growing, the question remains:
Will the UN act, or will this be another cry into the void?
