Senator Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South) has argued that the National Assembly failed to meet the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds majority before approving President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State.
Tambuwal pointed to Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, which mandates two-thirds support from both chambers for such a move. “In the Senate, I did not see the required 72 or 73 senators present during the vote,” he stated, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the approval.
The state of emergency, declared by Tinubu last Tuesday, led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all state assembly members, replacing them with a sole administrator, retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas. The declaration has sparked criticism, with Tambuwal and other lawmakers arguing that due process was not followed.
He also highlighted past precedents, including similar emergency declarations under former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, which strictly adhered to the constitutional two-thirds requirement.
With the approval of the emergency rule conducted via a voice vote rather than a recorded count, concerns remain over whether Tinubu secured the necessary legislative backing for his decision.