Human rights lawyer and counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has expressed deep concern over what he describes as the rapid erosion of constitutional order and the rule of law under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Friday, Ejiofor reflected on a recent comment by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Shettima had recounted how former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, intervened during an alleged unconstitutional attempt to remove him as Governor of Borno State. According to Shettima, the duo had reminded then-President Goodluck Jonathan that even he lacked the constitutional authority to remove an elected councillor, let alone a sitting governor.
Ejiofor described Shettima’s recollection as a nostalgic reminder of a time when, despite its flaws, the Nigerian constitutional framework had champions within government who stood firm in defense of democratic principles. He lamented, however, that the same commitment to upholding the rule of law appears absent in the current administration—where Shettima now serves as Vice President.
“The irony is unmistakable,” Ejiofor stated. “Vice President Shettima now serves in an administration widely accused of subverting the very constitutional safeguards that once protected him. A striking example is the recent imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State by the Tinubu-led government, which many view as a calculated move to oust a democratically elected governor through executive overreach.”
He further alleged that not only was the Rivers State Governor removed without due process, but that the entire democratic structure in the state, including elected councillors, was effectively dismantled under the current federal administration.
“The same constitutional principles that saved Shettima’s governorship are now being disregarded by the government he serves,” Ejiofor remarked.
He went on to question whether the kind of principled resistance once displayed by figures like Adoke and Tambuwal could still exist within the current political landscape. “Can Vice President Shettima, in all honesty, cite any recent example where power has been restrained for the sake of upholding democracy?” he asked.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s democratic journey is still evolving, Ejiofor stressed that its fundamental principles must not be selectively applied or discarded when inconvenient.
“The defense of constitutional order must not be relegated to history—it must be actively upheld in the present. Senator Shettima’s own words are a powerful reminder of what once was, and a warning of what may soon be lost,” Ejiofor concluded.
