President Bola Tinubu is facing stiff resistance in his bid to secure a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to approve his controversial emergency rule declaration in Rivers State, MUK TV has learned.
On Tuesday, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all House of Assembly members for six months.
He appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator.
For the proclamation to take effect, Section 305(2) of the Constitution requires the president to transmit it to the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives for approval.
However, Tinubu’s move has elicited intense debate over its legality, as the 1999 Constitution does not explicitly grant the president the power to suspend an elected governor or appoint an administrator.
Under Section 305(6), the proclamation must be approved within two days if the National Assembly is in session—or within ten days if not—by a two-thirds majority in both chambers. This means Tinubu needs at least 240 votes in the House of Representatives and 73 in the Senate.
However, only 36 senators or 121 representatives are needed to block the motion.
Sources in the National Assembly revealed that Tinubu’s allies are struggling to secure the required numbers. Due to insufficient support, the Senate deferred deliberations on the motion to Thursday.
“There is no provision for absentee or WhatsApp voting,” a senator told TheCable.
“Every member will stand up and declare if they are in support of or against the declaration of the state of emergency.”
Lawmakers are reportedly divided along party lines, with opposition members—and even some from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—raising concerns about setting a dangerous precedent.
Furthermore, a good number of lawmakers are currently abroad for the lesser hajj and Ramadan fasting, complicating efforts to reach a quorum.
An APC senator admitted that Tinubu’s administration mishandled the process, putting lawmakers in a difficult position.
“If he had co-ordinated well with us, we would have adjourned indefinitely before the proclamation—then we would have had 10 days to gather the numbers,” he explained.
Despite claims from House of Representatives spokesperson Akin Rotimi that Tinubu consulted lawmakers before making the announcement, the president’s letter seeking approval for the emergency rule was not read during Wednesday’s plenary.
Meanwhile, the Senate, which listed the motion as its first item for debate, abruptly stepped it down before any discussion took place.
If Tinubu fails to secure the necessary two-thirds majority by Thursday, as stipulated in the Constitution, his proclamation will be invalidated—restoring Governor Fubara and his administration.
