Senate approves emergency rule in Rivers

The Senate has approved the request of President Bola Tinubu for the declaration of a state emergency rule in Rivers state.

The decision was taken after a closed door session by the lawmakers in Abuja on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Tinubu had, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The declaration saw the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and members of state House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

However, the declaration must be ratified by the two arms of the National Assembly within two days of the declaration, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), otherwise the action become a nullity.

The Senate’s ratification on Thursday followed the consideration of a request to that effect from the president at plenary on Thursday.

Tinubu had written to the Senate to expeditiously consider the proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

After the reading of the letter by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidela (APC-Ekiti) moved a motion for the re-ordering of the items on the order paper.

Senate goes into closed session to discuss Rivers emergency rule

The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP-Benue).

A point order was, however, raised by Henry Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa), which made the Senatr to resolve to go into a closed session to deliberate on the matter.

Arising from the closed session, the Senate ratified the proclamation of the state of emergency in Rivers State.

Akpabio, in his remarks after the closed session, said the Senate invoked its powers, as conferred on it by Section 305(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and approved the proclamation.

He said: “Senate invoked its powers, as conferred on it by Section 305, Subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and approved the proclamation of the state of emergency declared by Mr President in Rivers State.

“The Senate further directs that the declaration of the state of emergency stated in the proclamation document and hereby mandates the president to review and even to terminate the state of emergency at any given time, but not later than six months.

“The senate further resolves that Section 11, Subsection 4 be invoked in providing the national assembly the authority to set up a Joint Committee of both chambers to oversight the administration of Rivers State henceforth.

“The Senate further resolves that a committee of eminent Nigerians be set up to reconcile the warring groups within the government of Rivers State within the period of the state of emergency.”

The Star