The National Assembly’s debate on President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State has been stalled due to a lack of quorum and communication from the President.
Furthermore, the Senate and House of Representatives were expected to discuss and approve the declaration, which includes the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials, as well as the appointment of an administrator.
However, the discussion was put on hold due to the absence of a gazetted proclamation, a document that must chronicle all the offenses of the Rivers State Governor and why the state emergency must be put in place. Additionally, some Senators claimed that the President did not observe provisions of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
Only 61 senators attended the session, which is less than the 71 required for a quorum. It was also gathered that 73 sitting senators were needed to vote for the emergency, but only 61 were available at the time.
The leadership of the Senate had to make a U-turn and use the day to “reach out and sell the project” due to the tense atmosphere. Another source also mentioned that it may be impossible to get the required number as most of the senators are expected to travel outside the country for Umrah.
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, APC, Ondo South, stated that the Senate is a democratic institution and has given room for more members to participate in the discussion. He assured that information will be sent to other members, and the discussion will continue the next day.
The session ended with the adjournment of plenary to the next legislative day at 2.45 pm, without mentioning the proclamation issued. The development has sparked reactions from various stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which have called on President Tinubu to reverse the emergency rule.
