The Nigerian Senate has entered an emergency executive session following a correspondence from President Bola Tinubu seeking constitutional approval for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The request, delivered at the start of today’s plenary, comes two days after the President suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months due to escalating political tensions in the state.
Senate Debate Over Procedure
During the session, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele invoked Order 1(b) to reorder the items on the order paper, allowing the chamber to entertain the President’s request as a matter of priority.
However, this move was met with objections from Senator Seriake Dickson, who raised a point of order. Dickson referred to previous media reports in which he had expressed concerns about the emergency rule and its implications for democracy in Rivers State.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged Dickson’s concerns and granted him the floor.
Senator Dickson proceeded to cite Order 133 of the Senate rules, arguing that matters concerning a state of emergency require the Senate President to brief lawmakers on the exact circumstances leading to the proclamation. He insisted that the Senate should first enter a closed-door session to deliberate on the President’s request in a more confidential setting before any public discussion.
Senate Goes Into Closed-Door Session
Following a brief exchange among lawmakers, the Senate voted to dissolve into a closed-door session to discuss the emergency rule.
The move suggests that the upper legislative chamber is taking a cautious approach to the matter, ensuring that all legal and constitutional concerns are thoroughly examined before proceeding with a final vote.
This development follows the decision by the House of Representatives earlier in the day, which voted in support of the emergency rule after a heated debate. The approval by the House has added momentum to the President’s directive, but the final decision rests on whether the Senate will grant its backing.
Opposition and Public Reactions
The declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State has sparked widespread reactions across Nigeria. Opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, have strongly condemned the decision, calling it an unconstitutional power grab. Civil society groups and legal experts have also questioned the necessity of the measure, arguing that the political crisis in Rivers could have been resolved without suspending elected officials.
The Senate’s decision in the coming hours is expected to have significant political ramifications, either cementing the President’s authority on the matter or opening the door for legal and legislative challenges.
As the closed-door session continues, Nigerians await the outcome of the Senate’s deliberations and the potential impact on governance in Rivers State.
