The Nigerian highest legislative body has passed and approved the state of emergency in Rivers State proclaimed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Senate approved the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the legislature, for an initial period of six months.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, who announced the approval after a closed-door meeting, said the Upper Chambers relied on its Orders 133, 134, 135 and 136.
Akpabio., who had earlier read a letter from the president, disclosed that Tinubu had written the Senate a letter of proclamation on the six-month suspension he slammed on Fubara.
The letter read aloud at plenary by Akpabio said: “In compliance with the provisions of Section 305, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I hereby forward, for the Constitution of the Senate, copies of the official Gazette of the State of Emergency Proclamation 2025.
“The main features of the proclamation are as follows.
“A declaration of a State of Emergency in one State of the Federation, namely, River State.
“The suspension from office of the Governor, his Deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly.
“An appointment of Vice-Admiral Iboete Iba, as the Administrator to administer the State something to any instruction or regulation as made from time to time be issued by me.”
Akpabio, after reading the letter, said: “This letter is committed to the Committee of the entire Senate for Immediate passage.”
It was gathered that Senator Seriake Dickson, PDP, Bayelsa West had raised a point of Order 133 that has to do with having a closed-door session.
