By Kingston Magare
The state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on Rivers State needs to be endorsed by the National Assembly for it be lawful.
But on Wednesday the Senate stepped down the motion to debate the development while the House of Reps ended its plenary without a mention of the situation in Rivers State.
Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers after suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and members of the state house of assembly and the National Assembly need to rectify the declaration within two days for it be a valid lawful order.
Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution mandates ratification of the president’s state of emergency directive with two-thirds of votes in the House of Representatives and the Senate, which was be done within two days of the order.
Many anticipated that the declaration of emergency rule would be discussed during the deliberations in the green chamber on Wednesday; however, the lawmakers concluded the plenary without addressing the matter.
Prior to the start of the session, two female members of the House had a heated exchange regarding the emergency rule declaration in Rivers State.
Representatives Blessing Amadi from Rivers State and Marie Ebikake were involved in a loud confrontation just before the plenary began.
