The Labour Party has declared its full support for Vice President Kashim Shettima’s recent comments subtly criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s role in the controversial attempt to remove Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, earlier this year.

In a statement released on Saturday and signed by the party’s acting national chairman, Nenadi Usman, the Labour Party described Shettima’s remarks as a “rare moment of honesty,” commending him for standing up for constitutional order in a political climate marked by silence and complicity.

“We commend Vice President Shettima for his rare moment of honesty in drawing attention to what was clearly an unconstitutional act—the illegal removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara earlier in March under the pretext of political chaos and a breakdown of law and order by President Bola Tinubu,” the statement read.

Shettima had, during a public event on Thursday, referenced an incident during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure when there was an attempt to remove him as Borno State governor. He recalled how senior government officials then reminded the president that he lacked the constitutional authority to remove even a local councillor. Though Shettima didn’t explicitly mention the Rivers State governor, the context of his comment was widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of Tinubu’s alleged interference in Rivers politics.

Following public reaction, however, the Vice President’s media office issued a swift clarification, claiming his comments bore no connection to current events—a move the Labour Party criticized as “cowardly” and “forced under pressure.”

“Vice President Shettima’s acknowledgement of that principled stance, particularly as it related to his own tenure, was refreshing until his media office, rather clumsily, tried to distance his comments from the ongoing crisis in Rivers State,” the Labour Party said.

The party further expressed concern over reports that Shettima was allegedly pressured by Tinubu’s inner circle to retract his statements, suggesting the development is a troubling indicator of the administration’s growing intolerance for dissent—even within its own ranks.

“The question must be asked: who is intimidating the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? If even Shettima, who enjoys immunity and other protections, is being coerced into silence, what hope exists for ordinary Nigerians?” the statement queried.

The Labour Party also accused the Tinubu administration of violating constitutional boundaries, particularly in its handling of the Rivers State crisis. The party referenced Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulates the legal procedure for declaring a state of emergency, emphasizing that no section grants the presidency the authority to remove an elected governor.

“If the Vice President cannot freely express a factual opinion without facing threats of retraction, it signals a dire state of governance and human rights under this administration,” the party added.

Concluding the statement, the Labour Party reiterated its unwavering support for Shettima’s original position, warning that attempts to undermine his role are not only disrespectful to his office but also an affront to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

“This is not just about Shettima; it is about defending the institution of the Vice Presidency and upholding the Constitution that guides our democracy,” the party emphasized.