The House of Representatives on Thursday amended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s executive order declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, which suspended the governor, his deputy, and members of the state House of Assembly.
During the plenary session, lawmakers deliberated on the president’s letter requesting parliamentary approval for the emergency rule. Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, allowed members to contribute to the debate before proceeding to a vote.
However, before discussions began, Hon. Obinna Aguocha (Labour Party, Abia State) raised a constitutional point of order. He urged the Speaker and the House to strictly adhere to Section 305(6b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates a two-thirds majority of members to approve such a request. Aguocha emphasized the need for a headcount to ensure the process was legally sound.
In response, the Speaker acknowledged his concerns and assured that attendance records would be verified. He later announced that 243 members were present.
Similarly, Hon. Fredrick Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa State) reminded the House that Nigerians have confidence in Speaker Abbas’s leadership and cautioned against any actions that might erode public trust.
Hon. Philip Agbese (APC, Benue State) proposed the formation of a special committee comprising members of the National Assembly, the Executive, and other eminent Nigerians to address the Rivers crisis.
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House Minority Whip Hon. Ali Isa JC recommended an amendment allowing President Tinubu to review the state of emergency duration, suggesting it could last one or two months but should not exceed six months. He also noted that the emergency rule could be lifted before the six-month mark if the situation stabilizes.
Following deliberations, the House approved the amendments via a voice vote and adopted the proceedings of the session held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, before adjourning until the following Tuesday.
In a parallel development, the Senate, in a plenary session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, also approved the President’s request.
