Abuja, Nigeria
Both chambers of the National Assembly have approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for a ‘State of Emergency’ in Rivers State.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter during Thursday’s plenary before lawmakers went into a closed-door session.
After the session, Akpabio put the matter to a voice vote, with lawmakers overwhelmingly supporting the request.
Akpabio announced the decision, saying the Senate had exercised its powers under section 305(2) of the constitution to approve the president’s proclamation.
“It is our hope that this declaration by the president will bring peace and resolve all the impasse in Rivers State,” Akpabio said.
In the same vein, the lower house was the first to approve the president’s proclamation via voice vote during plenary on Thursday.
Before the green chamber commenced its debate on Tinubu’s request, the member from Abia, Obi Aguocha raised a point of order, raising the need to follow constitutional procedures as provided for in Section 305 that head counts should be taken for such a critical decision.
He said sub-section 6(b) of the constitutional provision mandates that the president’s request must be approved by a two-thirds majority of House members.
However, lawmakers interrupted him with shouts of “Sit down!”
The speaker who presided during the plenary, Tajudeen Abbas, agreed with his colleagues and asked Aguocha to sit down.
He said the register of members will be used to verify the number of lawmakers present.
Another lawmaker from Bayelsa, Fred Agbedi rose to support Aguocha’s argument, stating that in the interest of transparency, the quorum should be announced to assure Nigerians of their commitment to openness.
“We must comply strictly with the constitution,” he said.
Voting on the matter, the speaker adopted voice voting, which rendered the requirement of securing 240 votes representing ⅔ of 360 to support the approval of the president’s request.
