In the House of Representatives, members approved the declaration with amendments, including a requirement for the sole administrator to report directly to the National Assembly rather than the Federal Executive Council.
The lawmakers invoked Section 11(4) of the Constitution, which stipulates that when a state legislature is unable to function, the National Assembly assumes its legislative responsibilities.
The House faulted the aspect of the president’s emergency proclamation which said that the Sole Administrator will be reporting to the Federal Executive Council.
In his amendment, Etanabene Benedict from Okpe/Sapele/Ovwie Federal Constituency of Delta State said Section 11 (4) of the constitution provides that once a State House of Assembly is unable to perform its duties, the National Assembly is to take charge of the legislations on its behalf and not the FEC as proposed by the president.
The House unanimously approved the amendment, thus, mandating the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, to report to the National Assembly instead of the Federal Executive Council as was earlier proclaimed by the president.
Reps want emergency period reviewed, approve mediation panel
Also, before approving the proclamation, lawmakers had pushed for a flexible review mechanism instead of a fixed six-month suspension of democratic governance in the state as proclaimed by the president.
Deputy Minority Whip of the House, Ali Isah (Gombe, PDP) moved an amendment requesting that the six months’ suspension period announced by the president should not be sacrosanct, adding that the emergency proclamation can be lifted earlier than that.
He said with strong commitment from all the parties involved in the crisis, peace deal can be struck within a period earlier than the six months, adding that the president should lift the state of emergency once the parties have been able to resolve their issues.
He said, “I believe, with strong commitment, the matter in Rivers can be resolved within the shortest period of time. I believe that the matter can also be resolved; maybe next week or upper week, which I believe, if the president shows commitment, and all the leadership too has shown commitment, we don’t need to wait for a longer period of time; within the shortest period of time, the matter can be resolved.”
The House also made further amendments to the emergency proclamation calling for the composition of a committee comprising members of the National Assembly and eminent personalities such as former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar and renowned cleric, Bishop Hassan Kukah to mediate among the warring parties for an amicable resolution of the impasse during the period of the emergency rule.
How Tinubu overcame opposition to secure approval
Despite strong opposition, President Tinubu secured the National Assembly’s ratification through a series of strategic moves and behind-the-scenes negotiations, Daily Trust reports.
Prior to Tuesday’s broadcast announcing the emergency rule, Tinubu met with National Assembly leaders at the Presidential Villa, briefing them on his plans and securing their support, according to sources.
On Wednesday, the proclamation was scheduled for debate in both chambers but was postponed due to a lack of quorum, forcing the leadership to push the matter to the next legislative sitting.
When the Senate and the House of Representatives reconvened yesterday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Abbas Tajudeen held separate closed-door sessions with lawmakers to resolve concerns and secure backing before presenting the matter at plenary.
High-level consultations and voice voting strategy
Daily Trust gathered that extensive consultations took place across various caucuses in both chambers to ensure lawmakers supported the emergency rule.
One key strategy deployed by the leadership was adopting a voice vote instead of electronic voting, making it difficult to determine the exact number of lawmakers who voted for and against the motion.
For the emergency rule to be valid, it required the approval of two-thirds of both chambers. However, the use of voice vote raised concerns about whether the required majority actually endorsed Tinubu’s action.
A senator told Daily Trust anonymously that the process was deliberately designed to ensure the declaration was ratified.
Reps debunk allegations of trade-offs
The deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, (APC, Benue), debunked the allegations that the lawmakers struck a deal with the executive to approve the emergency rule declaration.
Agbese was reacting to reports that each lawmaker got thousands of dollars.
Some online media platforms had alleged payment of as much as $25,000 to each lawmaker; while others claimed that $10,000 and $5,000 was paid to each lawmaker depending on their ranking.
But Agbese explained that the decision was based on the “doctrine of necessity” aimed at restoring peace in Rivers State.
“The president cannot buy the parliament. No one needed to be induced for us to do what was necessary.
“It’s high time Nigerians understood that we have buried our sentiments and now wear the toga of patriotism. This was not about monetary inducement,” he added.
Obi condemns N/Assembly for voice vote approval
The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the National Assembly for using a voice vote to approve Tinubu’s emergency rule declaration in Rivers State.
Obi described the legislators’ action as a breach of the Nigerian Constitution, arguing that such a critical national decision should not have been taken without a recorded vote.
In a series of tweets on his X handle on Thursday, Obi wrote:
“While still agonising over the ongoing deterioration of democracy in our nation, especially with the situation in Rivers State, and trying to reach out to our National Assembly members not to support and sustain the unconstitutionality and arbitrariness, I just heard that they have added salt to injury by using a voice vote.”
He stated that the Nigerian Constitution explicitly requires a two-thirds majority of all members in each legislative chamber to approve such a proclamation, making a simple “Aye” or “Nay” vote insufficient.
Tinubu hails N/Assembly for ‘patriotic stand’
President Tinubu commended the National Assembly for what he described as its “patriotic ratification” of the state of emergency, despite mounting opposition.
In a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the approval was a crucial step in restoring stability after a prolonged political crisis that had crippled governance in the state and threatened national economic security for over 15 months.
The president praised the leadership of both chambers—Senate President Akpabio, House Speaker Abbas, and other lawmakers—for setting aside partisan interests to prioritise the security and welfare of the people of Rivers.
He acknowledged that their review of classified security briefings underscored the urgency of intervention to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
“The crisis in Rivers State was at a perilous tipping point, threatening the security of vital oil and gas installations and undermining the national economy, as well as the significant progress we have made in the reforms initiated since our administration commenced in May 2023,” the statement read.
Tinubu reiterated that the near-collapse of governance, threats to federal economic assets, and the risk of widespread violence left no room for hesitation, necessitating the emergency rule.
“This emergency measure is a lifeline to safeguard livelihoods, secure critical infrastructure, and restore democratic accountability,” he added.
The president affirmed that the six-month emergency rule would empower the newly appointed Sole Administrator to stabilise the state, address systemic failures, and facilitate dialogue among the warring parties.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with the National Assembly to promote peace, economic resilience, and equitable development across the country. (Daily trust)
