‘Democracy is Dead in Nigeria’ – Pat Utomi Condemns NASS Over Rivers Crisis

Pat Utomi, a former presidential candidate, has blasted the National Assembly for supporting President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Due to the unsolved political situation in the state, Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly.
Nevertheless, the National Assembly unanimously adopted the proclamation on Thursday, March 20, 2025, in spite of the flurry of objections to the move from opposition party leaders, attorneys, and political analysts nationwide.
In an interview with Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, March 21, 2025, Prof. Utomi claimed that the lawmakers had destroyed democracy and that he could not openly claim to be from a democracy.

Noting that the majority of the current members of the National Assembly were hiding while individuals like him struggled for democracy, the political economy professor claimed that the Senate and House of Representatives’ support of emergency rule was an insult to Nigerians.

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He declared, “Today, democracy was killed in Nigeria.” Since my country is not a democracy, I cannot openly claim to be from one. The way it is done is extremely disrespectful to the Nigerian people’s sensibilities.

The Nigerian people were insulted by what they did yesterday. The National Assembly’s insults to Nigerians have become routine. We are no longer a democracy.

In addition, Pat Utomi criticized the lawmakers’ voting procedure and the assertion that there was not a single dissident voice during the voice vote.

It is tragic that Nigeria has reached a point where the world now mocks the nation, he insisted, adding that Nigerian authorities are undermining the nation’s institutions.