NADECO Petitions U.S. President Trump, Demands Visa Ban on Akpabio, Abbas, and Ibas over Rivers Crisis
The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO-USA), a leading pro-democracy advocacy group, has formally petitioned U.S. President Donald Trump, calling for immediate visa sanctions against key Nigerian political figures over what it described as unconstitutional and anti-democratic actions in Rivers State.
In a letter addressed directly to President Trump and obtained by reports on Friday, NADECO-USA accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and the federally appointed Rivers State Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, of playing central roles in the alleged erosion of democratic norms in the state.
Signed by the Executive Director of NADECO-USA, Lloyd Ukwu, the petition condemned the March 18, 2025 declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. According to the group, the declaration was both “unfounded” and “unconstitutional,” and was used as a pretext to suspend the democratically elected Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Dr. Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly.
The letter further alleged that this unconstitutional action paved the way for the imposition of Vice Admiral Ibas as Sole Administrator a move they say violates both Nigeria’s constitution and internationally accepted democratic standards.
“The President’s actions would not have been possible without the active support of the National Assembly leadership, particularly Senator Akpabio and Speaker Abbas,” Ukwu wrote.
He urged the U.S. government to impose visa restrictions on Akpabio, Abbas, Ibas, and their immediate family members. Such sanctions, he argued, would reinforce the U.S.’s commitment to protecting democracy in Nigeria and around the world.
“By taking this action, the United States would send a strong message that it stands firmly against any effort to subvert democratic processes and the will of the people,” he said.
NADECO-USA also revealed that it was in the process of lobbying the governments of the United Kingdom and the European Union to consider similar sanctions against the trio and their families.
The group vowed to explore all legal and diplomatic avenues both in Nigeria and abroad to hold the individuals accountable for their alleged roles in destabilizing democracy, not just in Rivers State but across the Niger Delta region.
The controversy stems from President Tinubu’s emergency declaration earlier this year, which suspended Governor Fubara and other elected officials. This move has since drawn widespread criticism and ignited debates about the rule of law and separation of powers in Nigeria.
In a related development, Vice Admiral Ibas recently submitted a ₦1.48 trillion budget to the Nigerian Senate a move critics argue is an overreach of power, especially since he was not elected.
NADECO’s petition marks a significant escalation in internationalizing the political tension brewing in Rivers State, as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
