Shettima Declares: “No President Has the Power to Sack an Elected Governor”
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has ignited fresh debate over presidential powers after boldly declaring that no president has the constitutional authority to remove a sitting governor.
Shettima made this statement on Thursday in Abuja at the launch of the book OPL 245: The Inside Story of Nigeria’s Most Controversial Oil Block, written by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN).
In an address that drew both applause and raised eyebrows, Shettima recalled a dramatic episode during his time as Governor of Borno State when then-President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly tried to remove him from office at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency
He said, “At one of these rare conclaves in the Villa, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal had the courage to tell President Jonathan that he did not have the powers to remove an elected governor,” Shettima also recounted how Adoke, supported this when the issue came up at the Federal Executive Council meeting.”
He emphasized that their intervention stopped what he described as an “unconstitutional action,” underscoring that only due process and constitutional mechanisms can remove an elected governor from office.
While Shettima did not mention President Bola Tinubu by name, many observers believe his comment was a subtle reference to the controversy surrounding the recent political crisis in Rivers State, where Governor Sim Fubara faced intense pressure and finally removed under a declaration of emergency.
A Timely Constitutional Reminder
Shettima’s remarks have resonated widely amid growing concerns that Nigeria’s democracy is being undermined by executive overreach.
Pro-democracy advocates and legal analysts have often cited Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution, which spells out the only lawful process for removing a governor—impeachment by the State House of Assembly, not a presidential order.
The vice president’s statement also seemed designed to send a clear message: he stands for constitutionalism and the rule of law, even if it means indirectly challenging the prevailing political climate.
Reactions Pour In
Civil society groups have praised Shettima’s candor. The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) described his remarks as “necessary at a time when constitutional provisions are routinely tested and sometimes ignored.”
Opposition politicians, including members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have seized on his comments as further evidence that recent interventions in state governments have crossed legal boundaries.
A legal expert Jide Ojo had this to say:
“What Shettima has done is to remind all political actors that the law is bigger than any individual, no matter how powerful.”
Why This Matters
Nigeria has seen repeated clashes between federal power and state autonomy, but public reminders like this from top government officials are rare. Shettima’s stance could shape how future constitutional crises are handled and may embolden governors to resist any perceived overreach by the presidency.
For millions of Nigerians concerned about the resilience of democracy, the message is clear: no president can sack a governor by fiat.
