Vice-President Kashim Shettima notes that the president has no power to remove an elected governor, four months after President Bola Tinubu unseated governor of Rivers State, Fubara.

Recall that governor Simi Fubara of Rivers State was removed from office on March 18, 2025, through a move initiated by the president.

The National Assembly later endorsed the action amid allegations that lawmakers were bribed by presidential allies.

Since then, a retired military officer has been acting in Fubara’s place.

Gazette reports that while speaking at a book launch of former attorney-general Bello Adoke in Abuja, Shettima argued there is no constitutional provision granting a president the authority to remove a sitting governor.

Drawing from his own experience as a former governor, he warned against such unconstitutional interventions in Nigeria’s democratic process.

He said …

“Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was floating the idea of removing this Borno governor (pointing at himself), and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, had the courage to tell the president: You don’t have the power to remove an elected councillor.”

Mr. Shettima also praised former Attorney-General Mohammed Bello Adoke for upholding the constitution during the Jonathan administration.

He recalled how Adoke resisted an attempt by then-President Goodluck Jonathan to remove governors of northeastern states in 2013 under the pretext of escalating insecurity.

Shettima commended Adoke’s stance, noting that it preserved democratic norms and prevented a dangerous precedent.

He added …

“The president was still unconvinced, he mooted the idea at the Federal Executive Council, Mr Mohammed Adoke told the president: You do not have the power to remove a sitting governor.

“They sought the opinion of another SAN in the cabinet, Kabiru Turaki, who also said: I am of the candid opinion of my senior colleagues. That was how the matter was laid to rest.”

“I want to thank you for the courage to forgive those who have offended you. In the last four years of the Jonathan government, I was the public enemy number one.”