The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, leading to the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the state assembly
The approval was granted through a voice vote during plenary on Thursday, following the President’s formal notification to the legislature. The decision comes amid heightened political tensions and security concerns in the oil-rich state.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the session, invited lawmakers to debate the general principles of Tinubu’s proclamation. During the discussions, Benue lawmaker and Deputy House Spokesman, Philip Agbese, proposed the creation of a national mediation committee to reconcile Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, a recommendation that the House approved.
Additionally, the Minority Whip argued that the six-month suspension should not be rigid. He suggested that if peace is achieved between the warring parties before the period ends, the emergency rule should be lifted, a proposal that was also accepted by the House.
Before deliberations began, the House briefly went into an executive session lasting about 10 minutes. However, an attempt by Abia lawmaker Obi Agwuncha to halt the debate—citing Section 305 (6b) of the Constitution, which mandates a two-thirds majority for such a decision—was overruled by Speaker Abbas.
President Tinubu had cited prolonged political instability and governance paralysis in Rivers State as justification for his emergency declaration. He emphasized that the crisis had stalled governance and deprived citizens of essential leadership. In line with the emergency measures, he appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during the suspension period.
The move has sparked mixed reactions, with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemning it as unconstitutional. Legal experts argue that an emergency declaration does not dissolve elected governments and warn that the decision sets a dangerous precedent.
This marks Nigeria’s first state of emergency declaration in over a decade, underscoring the federal government’s intensified efforts to address political unrest and security challenges in the Niger Delta region.
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