Nigeria’s House of Representatives has voted in support of the declaration of a state of emergency rule in Rivers State, Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months following the political crisis that had rocked the state.
Following Tinubu’s declaration, the House of Representatives in a voice vote gave a seal of approval to his decision.
The House of Reps made some amendments to the proclamation which include the set up of a committee of eminent Nigerians to mediate on the matter during the period of emergency.
It also drew attention to the Constitutional provision that allows the National Assembly to make laws for a state if at any time the state assembly is unable to perform its functions, disagreeing with Tinubu’s position that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would usurp this function.
The House of Representatives also said the state of emergency can be reviewed and terminated at any time within the initial six months, as proclaimed, based on progress made about peace.