JUST IN: Reps Commence Debate on Tinubu’s Emergency Rule in Rivers

The House of Representatives has begun discussions on President Bola Tinubu’s request for a state of emergency in Rivers State. 

Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, read the President’s letter during Thursday’s plenary session, marking the official start of the debate. 

President Tinubu’s effort to gain legislative approval for the emergency rule faced a setback on Wednesday when the House failed to vote on the matter due to low attendance. 

According to the Nigerian Constitution, Section 305, any declaration of emergency must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate within 48 hours. However, the House plenary session had fewer than 80 lawmakers present—far below the required 120 members needed for a quorum in the 360-member chamber. Without enough lawmakers, a binding decision could not be made. 

The debate follows Tinubu’s national broadcast on Tuesday, where he announced the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months. He also appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the state’s sole administrator. 

The move has sparked widespread concern, with many arguing that the Nigerian Constitution does not give the President the power to remove an elected governor.