POLITICS OF STATE OF EMERGENCY AS INSTRUMENT FOR STATE CAPTURE: A STUDY OF RIVER STATE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, NIGERIA

The study displays the flagrant abuse of the declaration of thestate of emergency by the president which constitute breach to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and by extension weaken the activities of the opposition political parties to avoid one party state. The objectives of the study was to find out how politically motivated state of emergency has breached the constitution of Nigeria and to examine how the declaration of the state of emergency has weaken the activities of opposition political party. In recent times,politically induced state of emergency has been used for state capture in Nigeria like the case of Rivers State. This study is qualitative research anchored on secondary sources of data which was obtained from the study of literature in the form of journal, books, magazines and other works that provide Scientifics and related information relevant to the study. The research made used of content analysis.The study adopted the economic regulation theory which correlates with few people controlling the state resources. The study recommended strong adherence to the constitution in following the procedures for emergency to be declared and democratic institutions to protect democracy with their responsibilities to avoid the weakening of the opposition and to avoid one party state.