Absence of Lawmakers Forces Senate to Shift Debate, Ratification of Emergency Rule in Rivers

Posted by Lawal Munirat on March 20, 2025 0

The proclamation of state of emergency in Rivers State was listed on the Order Paper for Wednesday’s plenary by Senate Leader, Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemise.

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday failed to ratify the declaration of state of emergency that led to the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu.

This comes after President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday 18th March, 2025, cited several alleged breaches by the Fubara administration as reasons within the ambit of law to declare a state of emergency in Rivers.

The proclamation of state of emergency in Rivers State was listed on the Order Paper for Wednesday’s plenary by Senate Leader, Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemi.

Recall that the postponement of the debate on the state of emergency may not be unconnected to the absence of most of the senators as the motion needed two-third majority to scale through.

A ranking senator of the ruling party, who didn’t want his name disclosed, confirmed that some colleagues might not want to get involved in what he described as “web of illegality”, hence they absented themselves from Wednesday’s plenary, knowing that the motion would come up.

Another Senator who was approached to offer his perspectives on reasons the motion was skipped, simply replied, “The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio is a lawyer, Senate leader, Michael Bamidele Opeyemi is a lawyer, let them tell you more about the legality of Rivers impasse.”

The declaration of the state of emergency has been condemned by several Nigerians.

Meanwhile, the motion and other items which were due for debate on Wednesday have been stepped down till Thursday.

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