EMERGENCY RULE DECLARATION AND ITS SECURITY IMPLICATIONS FOR DEMOCRATIC PRACTICE IN NIGERIA
Rufus Aisedion 1, Ibrahim Momoh 2 & Joseph Osayande Akhimien 3
Department of Political Science, Ambrose Alli Univerity, Ekpoma, Edo State 1, 2
Department of Sociology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State 3
Corresponding Email: raisedion@aauekpoma.edu.ng 1
Abstract
Since 1999, Nigeria has been in the front burner of democratic rule with specific states embroiled differently in ethno-religious and political violence. For instance, Plateau state former Governor Joshua Dariye’s inability to resolve ethno-religious violence between Muslim and Christian which resulted in hundreds of people killed in Yeiwa, made former President Olusegun Obasanjo to declare a state of emergency in May 2004, Also in October 2006, a state of emergency was declared in Ekiti State, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, due to a political crisis following the impeachment of former Governor Ayodele Fayose. In 2013 northeast states had upsurge in Boko Haram insurgencies and state of emergency for intensive military operations was declared. Recently, in March 2025, a state of emergency was declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. This action was taken due to the failure of Governor Fubara to resolve political disagreements between him and members of the State House of Assembly. Arising from the above, the study examines the constitutional foundations governing the declaration of emergency rule in Nigeria, analyzes selected cases of emergency rule declarations since 1999 and their practical implementation, and assesses the security implications of emergency rule on democratic practice. The paper used secondary methods of data gathering sourced from textbooks, journals, internet, among others. The findings of the paper argued that although emergency rule is a valid constitutional mechanism intended to protect the state, its repeated or expansive application carries significant security risks. These include the erosion of institutional integrity, weakening of civil liberties, and the undermining of public confidence in democratic governance. The conclusion of the paper revealed that the declaration of states of emergency has patterns of inconsistent adherence to legality, proportionality, and oversight. The declarations of emergencies in Plateau State 2004, Ekiti State 2006 and Bayelsa in 2025 demonstrated how emergency powers have been politically instrumentalized, as tools for the federal authority to assert its relevance rather than addressing genuine crises. The study offered recommendations aimed at strengthening constitutional safeguards, reinforcing independent oversight, and improving the state’s capacity to respond to emergencies without compromising democratic norms.
Keywords: Emergency Rule, Democratic Consolidation, Institutional Integrity, Constitutionalism, Security, Rule of Law, Political Governance.
