The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has strongly condemned suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara over his recent remarks suggesting he has abandoned the struggle against the emergency rule imposed on the state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja and signed by CUPP National Secretary Chief Peter Ameh, the coalition criticized Fubara's May 11 declaration that his "spirit has already left the Government House" and his expressed reluctance to return even if reinstated.

The group described Fubara's position as "a betrayal of the collective will of the people" who have been opposing the emergency rule declared by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025, which suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly.

"This remark undermines the collective struggle to defend Nigeria's 1999 Constitution," the statement read. "CUPP asserts that Fubara's acquiescence is a betrayal of the millions who resisted Tinubu's authoritarian overreach, as it was never about Fubara's personal sentiments but about upholding constitutional democracy."

The coalition emphasized that the state of emergency, which appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as sole administrator, has been widely condemned as unconstitutional by numerous organizations including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and various civil society groups.

According to CUPP, the Constitution does not permit the suspension of elected officials without due process, such as impeachment under Section 188. The group noted that seven PDP governors, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) had challenged Tinubu's actions in the Supreme Court, labeling them a "blatant violation" and an attempt at "state capture."

"Nigerians, including CUPP, supported this resistance to protect the democratic rights of Rivers' electorate, not to defend Fubara personally," the statement continued. "His claim that his spirit has left the Government House trivializes this fight, breaking the hearts of those who protested and litigated to uphold the rule of law."

The coalition further argued that Fubara's statement suggests a lack of resolve to confront what they described as "the tyranny of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government," which the PDP has accused of plotting to impose a one-party state.

While acknowledging that the Supreme Court's February 28, 2025, ruling highlighted governance breaches by Fubara, CUPP maintained that President Tinubu's response was "disproportionate and illegal," citing legal experts like Kunle Edun (SAN).

"To Fubara, CUPP declares: this struggle was never about you or your spirit. It was about defending the Constitution and the mandate of Rivers' people who elected you in 2023," the statement asserted. "Your reluctance to return, even if reinstated, disrespects the sacrifices of Nigerians who challenged Tinubu's actions from the streets to the courts."

The coalition called on Fubara to retract his statement and reaffirm his commitment to democratic principles, urging all Nigerians to remain vigilant in defending democracy against what they termed "unconstitutional actions by the APC-led government."

"The people of Rivers State and Nigeria deserve leaders who uphold the rule of law, not those who abandon the fight," the statement concluded.