Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has suggested that the Nigerian Senate failed to meet the constitutional two-thirds majority required to approve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Last Thursday, the Senate, in a closed session, deliberated on Tinubu’s proclamation and later approved it during plenary through a voice vote.
Tinubu had on Tuesday night declared a state of emergency in Rivers.
The President blamed the development on the protracted political crisis in the oil-rich state.
He also suspended the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and House of Assembly members for six months.
Tinubu later appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ibas, as sole administrator to run the affairs of the state.
However, Tambuwal, who represents Sokoto South in the 10th Senate, argued that the necessary two-thirds majority—73 out of 109 senators—was not met.
According to him, the decision of the Senate violated Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
“Section 305 of the Constitution is very clear and unambiguous on how a state of emergency should be declared and the legislative process required,” Tambuwal told Sunday Sun.
“I observed that there were not enough senators present to meet the constitutional requirement. From what I saw, there was no such number on the floor on that day.
What stops the current National Assembly from making reference to its own precedents that are in its records? I can’t understand that.”
