The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The decision was reached on Thursday following a closed-door session by lawmakers.
The Guardian reports that the House of Representatives had earlier on Thursday approved the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State but made key amendments to the proclamation.
During a plenary session on Thursday, presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, lawmakers supported the emergency rule through a voice vote. However, they insisted that the National Assembly, not the Federal Executive Council, should assume legislative functions in the state during the period.
Additionally, the House proposed the establishment of a committee of eminent Nigerians to mediate the crisis and stated that the emergency rule could be reviewed or terminated before the initial six-month period, depending on progress toward peace.
President Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers on Tuesday, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and state lawmakers. He cited security threats and vandalism of pipelines as reasons for the drastic action.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, legal experts, and some governors, including Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai. Despite the backlash, the Federal Government has defended the president’s decision.
