From Ismail Omipidan, Romanus Ugwu, Ndubuisi Orji, Sola Ojo, Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja, Tony Osauzo, Benin, Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa and Tony John, Port Harcourt
Outrage, anger and condemnations have trailed National Assembly’s ratification of the declaration of emergency rule imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On Tuesday, Vice Admiral Ibas (retd) was announced Sole Administrator and inaugurated on Wednesday, following the declaration of emergency rule which saw the suspension of all elected political officers, including the governor, deputy and members of the House of Assembly.
At plenary, yesterday, the Senate approved the proclamation after an executive session that lasted about one and a half hours while it took the House barely 30 minutes to endorse it. Both chambers adopted voice votes.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio cited constitutional provisions that empower the legislature to act in such situations. “The Senate invokes the powers conveyed on it by Section 305(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and approves the proclamation of the state of emergency declared by Mr. President in Rivers State,” Akpabio declared.
To ensure oversight of the emergency administration, the Senate also invoked Section 11(4) of the Constitution, which authorises the National Assembly to set up a joint ad-hoc committee with the House of Representatives to monitor governance in the state.
“The Senate further resolved that a joint committee of both chambers be established to oversee the administration of Rivers State henceforth.”
Additionally, the Senate approved the formation of a Committee of Eminent Nigerians to mediate and reconcile the conflicting factions within the state government during the emergency period.
“The Senate further resolved 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,” Akpabio stated.
When the motion for approval was put to a voice vote, there was no opposition. Before going into session, a mild altercation occurred between Akpabio and Senator Seriake Dickson.
The exchange began when Dickson raised a Point of Order after Akpabio read the written gazette on the proclamation and called on the Senate Leader to guide deliberations. As Dickson attempted to speak, Akpabio interjected: “Senator Dickson, please hold on with your point of order. I heard all that you said on television yesterday – that the Senate will not go with you on this issue, and we are not going to go with you.
“You are a former governor like myself and now a distinguished senator. Please, let’s do things in the interest of Nigerians.”
However, when Dickson was eventually allowed to speak, he cited Order 133 of the Senate Standing Rules, which mandates that matters of state of emergency must be deliberated in a closed-door session.
Akpabio upheld the point of order, leading to the executive session, after which the Senate reached its resolutions.
The House, in its resolution, also mandated the President to set up a National Committee composed of members of the Executive arm of government, the National Assembly and eminent Nigerians to mediate in the Rivers political crisis during the period of emergency rule.
Also, the House resolved that in line with Section 11( 4) of the 1999 Constitution it is the National Assembly that will make laws for Rivers State, during the emergency rule, and not the President.
The endorsement, Daily Sun learnt, is contrary to expectations of the members of the opposition who had earlier urged the lawmakers not to approve the declaration, on the grounds that it was illegal, unconstitutional and capable of eroding the country’s democratic gains.
•Eminent Nigerians
The Senator, in their meeting last night, agreed that the Committee of Eminent Nigerians saddled with the responsibility of brokering peace should be headed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar as first choice or someone of his status.
It also resolved that the Ad hoc committee of the Senate and House of Representatives be established to oversight the sole administrator instead of the National Executive Council to reduce the influence of former governor, Wike, in the running of the state as he is a member of the Executive Council and would still be one of the direct decision makers in a matter that concerns him and that the period for the emergency rule will be determined by how soon the peace committee can broker peace, which could be anytime but not exceeding six months.
•Opposition coalition mobilises
Meanwhile, political bigwigs and coalition of opposition parties, comprising former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party (LP) presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi, former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and others, have urged Nigerians to resist what they described as brazen assault on democracy with the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.
At a press conference, the group enumerated the constitutional violations in the declaration of the emergency rule.
Atiku, who read the speech, accused President Tinubu of misuse of Section 305 on State of Emergency, failure to meet constitutional requirements for emergency rule and follow due process and ignoring of alternative legal avenues.
“This action is not only unlawful but also a clear subversion of democracy and imposition of autocratic federal control over a duly elected state government. We strongly condemn this development and call on all Nigerians of good conscience to resist this brazen assault on the constitution of our country and the institutions of our democracy.
“Mr. President’s illegal and unconstitutional proclamation was presumably driven by the protracted insidious political crisis in Rivers State, which culminated in the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. Naturally, we expected all parties to the dispute to follow laid-down procedures, and in good faith, to promptly implement the judgment of the highest court of the land.
“We note that despite provocative statements and belligerent attitude of his opponents, Governor Fubara had demonstrated goodwill and appeared disposed to the implementation of the ruling of the Supreme Court.
“However, rather than rise above the fray, the president yielded to petty favouritism and betrayed the oath that he solemnly swore to before God and man, which was to “do right to all manner of people, according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.”
“If President Tinubu had conveniently disguised his true intentions in the past, his broadcast to the nation on 18th March 2025 betrayed his bias and fell far below the standard of comportment expected from his exalted office.”
Defending their rejection of the emergency rule, the coalition said: “Without any doubts, the Nigerian Constitution does not empower the President to remove an elected Governor, Deputy Governor, or State Assembly under any circumstances. The procedure for removing a governor is clearly outlined in Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) through an impeachment process initiated by the State House of Assembly-not by presidential proclamation or arbitrary pronouncement.”
Part of their demands include immediate reversal and revocation of the unconstitutional proclamation and reinstatement of the governor and others.
“We call on all Civil Society Organisations, political groups, and Nigerians of good conscience to stand firm in the defence of this democracy that we have all toiled to build.
“Rivers State is not a conquered territory, and Nigeria is not a dictatorship requiring the replacement of an Elected Governor with a Military Administrator.
“We recall that even when a previous administration had declared a state of emergency in parts of the country bedevilled by insurgency and acts of terrorism, the governors of the concerned states were not removed from office as this administration has done. This action, by President Tinubu therefore represents a new low for our country,” the coalition lamented.
Asked if the coalition will graduate beyond criticisms to mobilise and work together to grab power in 2027, the Waziri Adamawa answered “yes.”
•Obi tasks Akpabio, Abbas
Earlier, Obi had implored Akpabio and speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen to ensure that the National Assembly acts in interest of democracy while considering the declaration of emergency rule
Obi, in an open letter to Akpabio and Abbas, on Wednesday, said the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and the state House of Assembly was “ultra vires” and capable of fostering a culture of impunity in the country.
The letter read in part : “Your Excellencies, I am moved to come to you, the heads of our legislative branch, in this form, because of the present critical situation in the country that needs your urgent and vital intervention to save our democracy.
“President Bola Tinubu’s Tuesday intervention in the ongoing Rivers State political crisis through a declaration of a state of Emergency that led to the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“This is clearly an ultra vires action capable of fostering a culture of impunity which your arm of government, the Legislature, is established to forestall. The legislature checks potential executive abuse of power through many means including the ability to override executive actions through vetoes.
“The legislature’s override of executive actions, such as vetoes of legislation, demonstrate its power to check possible abuse of executive’s authority.
The separation of powers, where the legislative, executive, and judicial branches each have distinct functions and powers, is a fundamental principle of democracy designed to prevent any one branch from becoming too dominant.
“The legislature’s role in checking possible executive abuses or excesses is crucial for maintaining a balanced and accountable government, preventing potential tyranny and ensuring that the executive branch operates within the bounds of the law.
“This situation throws a huge challenge on the two of you as the heads of the legislative arm of the country. I urge you, therefore, to take a dispassionate look at the situation in Rivers State and ensure that you deploy your arm of government properly in the interest of the people of Rivers State and our democracy. Nigerians and all lovers of democracy globally are looking up to you to correct this anomaly and show that you operate within the tenets of genuine democracy.”
•NASS resolution betrayal of Rivers people –PDP
The PDP also described the approval of the Emergency Rule through voice vote, as a betrayal of the Rivers people.
National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the entire process was a charade and has confirmed the failure of the parliament checkmating the Executive arm of government.
“It is a sad day for Nigeria and democracy; that something as important that concerns the life of the people as the declaration of state of emergency is being trivialized by the National Assembly.
“We have stated it all along that this National Assembly has failed Nigerians in terms of being a check on the executive. Now, it has been confirmed by this charade. It is a betrayal of the Nigerian people, who voted to elect them for the purpose of being a watchdog and ensuring that the constitution and its provisions are adhered to by the Executive, in particular and even the National Assembly.
“It is sad and we watched with amazement. It is really sad for democracy. And today will enter the annals of Nigerian democratic practice and history as one of the worst.
“The country is drifting, if we are not careful, towards totalitarianism. We need to know where all our representatives stand on this issue. And for the House to go by voice vote, where the lives of the people of Rivers State are concerned, over 10 million residents; that is a betrayal of the Nigerian people, especially for Rivers people.
“The people voted for their leaders as expected under the constitution. But when you have a charade that brings in somebody who is completely alien to the governance and people of Rivers State, it is sad.
“Mr President has succeeded in bringing chaos to Rivers. We condemn it. The idea of its declaration is unconstitutional. It is invalid and we maintain that position. The President has no such power to relieve democratically elected officials. What they are trying to do is to abrogate the constitution, where somebody will be spending resources without the authorization and the authority as envisaged under the constitution.
•More reactions
Condemning the actions of the lawmakers, National President, Northern Youth Council of Nigeria, Isah Abubakar, said emergency rule violates democratic principles.
“The decision was not only a violation of the democratic principles that underpin our nation but also an affront to the will of the Rivers people who elected their leaders through a legitimate electoral process.
“The Council views this move as an unsettling precedent that undermines the constitutional rights of citizens and disrupts the existing governance framework. Declaring a state of emergency often leads to the erosion of civil liberties and creates an atmosphere of political instability, further exacerbating the challenges facing the region.
“We call upon the National Assembly to reconsider this decision and engage in constructive dialogue with all relevant stakeholders to address the underlying issues without resorting to measures that undermine democracy. It is imperative that the government prioritizes peace, stability, and constructive governance that reflects the values and aspirations of the people.
“The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria stands in solidarity with the people of Rivers State during this troubling time and advocates for a return to a democratic and equitable governance process”, Abubakar said.
Also speaking, the fourth National President, Campaign for Democracy (CD) Bako Abdul Usman, described the lawmakers’ endorsement of the emergency rule in Rivers as “unfortunate illegality.”
He further said that “looking at the condition the assembly equally presented after upholding the illegality by Mr president, it clearly shows that we are not there yet, we still have a long way to go in getting things right. How can an elected Governor be subjected to sharing powers with an appointee official of Mr President?
“That clearly shows great signs of dictatorship, because majority votes were accorded to one while the other had none. Looking at the calibre of our representatives at the National Assembly, going by their past records, such is expected of them as most of them lack the capacity of being there while some have questionable characters, others are full of corrupt tendencies,” Usman said.
Credit: The Sun