Tambuwal Questions Legality of Rivers State Emergency Rule Approval

Tambuwal Questions Legality of Rivers State Emergency Rule Approval

Aminu Tambuwal, senator representing Sokoto South, has challenged the legitimacy of the National Assembly’s approval of the state of emergency in Rivers State, stating that the required two-thirds majority was not met.

Last Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu declared the emergency rule in Rivers, citing prolonged political unrest and sabotage of oil installations. The move led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly for six months. In their place, Tinubu appointed retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator.

On March 20, the Senate and House of Representatives controversially ratified Tinubu’s request, but several stakeholders, including the South-South Governors’ Forum, have criticized the decision.

Tambuwal, in an interview with The Sun, argued that the National Assembly did not follow due process. Citing Section 305 (6) of the Nigerian Constitution, he noted that an emergency proclamation requires a two-thirds majority of all lawmakers—at least 240 votes in the House of Representatives and 73 in the Senate. However, both chambers used a voice vote instead of an official count.

"I will be speaking to you from the point of view of being a lawyer, a member of the body of benchers, and a life bencher for that matter," Tambuwal stated, hinting at legal and constitutional concerns over the approval process.