Controversy Brews: Tinubu’s Rivers Emergency Rule Gets NASS Backing
Despite stark opposition to the presidential proclamation imposing a state of emergency on oil-rich Rivers State, Nigeria’s two top legislative houses approved the March 18, 2025 declaration by President Bola Tinubu before the expiration of the 48-hour time allowed by the 1999 Constitution.
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In separate voice votes, which have been questioned, the 109-member Senate and 360-member House of Representatives, dominated by the president’s party men, endorsed the emergency rule imposed by the commander-in-chief on the Niger Delta state.
Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, announced a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu; as well as the Rivers State House of Assembly members for six months in the first instance.
Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as justification, Tinubu stated that he could not stand by and watch the political situation in Rivers worsen without doing something about it.
Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, announced a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu; as well as the Rivers State House of Assembly members for six months in the first instance.
Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as justification, Tinubu stated that he could not stand by and watch the political situation in Rivers worsen without doing something about it.
Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd), a former naval chief, was selected and sworn in by the president right away to serve as the only government for the oil-rich Niger Delta state.
However, pro-Nyesom Wike suspended MPs have hailed the emergency rule, accusing Fubara of violating the Supreme Court's order regarding the state's political situation. Rivers State's immediate-past governor, Wike, and his estranged former political godson, Fubara, have been at odds over control of the state's political system for the past two years.
Goodluck Jonathan imposed emergency rule on the whole northeastern insurgent-ridden states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa on May 14, 2013, the last time a Nigerian president had done so.
However, pro-Nyesom Wike suspended MPs have hailed the emergency rule, accusing Fubara of violating the Supreme Court's order regarding the state's political situation. Rivers State's immediate-past governor, Wike, and his estranged former political godson, Fubara, have been at odds over control of the state's political system for the past two years.
Goodluck Jonathan imposed emergency rule on the whole northeastern insurgent-ridden states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa on May 14, 2013, the last time a Nigerian president had done so.
Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), defended his principal's position during a State House briefing on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. He specifically blamed Fubara for failing to implement the Supreme Court's February 28, 2025, raft of decisions regarding Rivers State's protracted political crisis.
Fagbemi claimed that the emergency rule announcement was a kind of reprieve for Fubara, who had received an impeachment notice from lawmakers who supported Wike.
Therefore, the justice minister suggested that anyone who disagreed with the president's action focus their efforts on getting the National Assembly to veto the president's decision. He went on to say that the new administrator might be granted access to the state's blocked appropriations.
Fagbemi claimed that the emergency rule announcement was a kind of reprieve for Fubara, who had received an impeachment notice from lawmakers who supported Wike.
Therefore, the justice minister suggested that anyone who disagreed with the president's action focus their efforts on getting the National Assembly to veto the president's decision. He went on to say that the new administrator might be granted access to the state's blocked appropriations.
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All eyes thereafter turned to the House of Representatives and the Senate on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to either reject or accept Tinubu’s proclamation. Many top voices, on behalf of millions of constituents in the country, passionately appealed to their representatives in the National Assembly to vote out the president’s proclamation.
In order to complete his constitutionally mandated action, Tinubu wrote separate letters to the upper and lower houses on Wednesday, requesting permission to impose his emergency rule in Rivers State. Earlier on Wednesday, both chambers closed the motion on the president's letter.
However, 240 legislators in the Green Chambers endorsed the president's decision on Thursday by casting their votes in a voice vote.
However, the proclamation was modified by the House under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who also established a committee of distinguished Nigerians to settle the issue during the emergency.
However, 240 legislators in the Green Chambers endorsed the president's decision on Thursday by casting their votes in a voice vote.
However, the proclamation was modified by the House under Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who also established a committee of distinguished Nigerians to settle the issue during the emergency.
