The two chambers of the National Assembly, constituting the Senate and House of Representatives, have finally approved the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, made by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night.

The legislative arm of the Nigerian government gave their approval nods during their separate plenary sessions to give the President backing for invoking the 1999 constitution as amended to suspend the elected public officials in Rivers State, including Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the members of the State House of Assembly for six months and replace them with a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.). 

While the president’s move has generated criticism, particularly from the stakeholders from the South-South region, the opposition political parties and the legal experts have insisted that the President could not make such a decision without the approval of the majority of the lawmakers from the two chambers of the legislature.

However, two days following President Tinubu’s declaration, the House of Representatives endorsed the decision in a voice vote based on a letter written to them by the president to legitimise the state of emergency in the oil-producing state.

During the plenary session on Thursday, presided over by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, who claimed the session was attended by 240 lawmakers, a voice vote was requested, and the members in attendance voted in support of the state of emergency.

However, the House made some adjustments to the declaration by overruling President Tinubu’s position that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would take charge of the legislative duties in River State. On the other hand, the House stated that the National Assembly would assume this function during the emergency period.

The House also set up a committee of eminent Nigerians to mediate on the matter during the emergency, as the lawmakers also have the constitutional backup to terminate the emergency if the administration fails to perform its expected duties or if peace is restored in the state.

Similarly, the Senate also joined suit with its colleagues in the green chamber to announce the endorsement of the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State after a closed session that lasted over an hour.

The Senate Plenary session was presided over by Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, who read the letter forwarded to the lawmakers by President Bola Tinubu with respect to the development in Rivers State.

The letter read by the Senate president said, “In compliance with the provisions of Section 305, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I hereby forward, for the Constitution of the Senate, copies of the official Gazette of the State of Emergency Proclamation 2025.

“The main features of the proclamation are as follows: A declaration of a state of emergency in one state of the federation, namely, Rivers State;

“The suspension from office of the Governor, his Deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly;

“An appointment of Vice-Admiral Iboete Iba as the Administrator to administer the state, something to any instruction or regulation as made from time to time, be issued by me. While I look forward to the expeditious constitution of the Senate, please accept, distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

After reading the letter, the senator representing the Bayelsa West senatorial district, Seriake Dickson, raised an observation that led the house to the closed session.

After the closed session, Senator Akpabio announced that the senate had approved the declared emergency in Rivers State.

Although Senator Dickson raised a point of order to address the position of the house, he was not eventually considered.