The House of Representatives has passed a resolution endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State over a prolonged political crisis in the State.
At a plenary on Thursday, March 20, the House passed a resolution backing the March 18 proclamation, which saw the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
The approval came after Tinubu, in his nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, announced that he had forwarded the decision to the National Assembly in accordance with constitutional provisions.
He invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to justify the move and appointed Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, a retired vice admiral, as the state’s sole administrator.
The approval was sealed by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas after he put the request to a voice vote, with the majority of the House shouting in approval.
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The decision, which came amid widespread controversy and political tension, signalled legislative backing for the president’s move to suspend the state’s governor, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly
A total of 243 lawmakers attended the plenary session where the resolution was passed on Thursday.
This legislative endorsement effectively solidified federal control over the state’s administration under emergency rule, despite opposition from political leaders, civil society groups, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who led a joint press conference earlier on Thursday to denounce the action as a “malicious” power grab.
