By Citizenship Daily
After about one and a half hours of a closed-door session on the consideration and approval of the State of Emergency proclamation made by President Bola Tinubu on Rivers State March 18, the Senate on Thursday unanimously approved the measure.
The approval was granted through a voice vote conducted by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, following resolutions adopted during the closed-door session, all of which received unanimous support.
Akpabio, announcing the resolutions stated, “The Senate, invoking the powers conferred on it by Section 305 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), hereby approves the proclamation of a state of emergency declared by Mr. President in Rivers State”.
He further added: “The Senate directs that the declaration of the state of emergency as contained in the proclamation may be reviewed or terminated by Mr. President at any given time, but no later than six months”.
Additionally, the Senate resolved to invoke Section 11 (4) of the Constitution, empowering the National Assembly to establish a joint ad-hoc committee of both chambers to oversee the administration of Rivers State during the emergency period.
“The Senate further resolved that a committee of eminent Nigerians be constituted to reconcile the warring groups within the government of Rivers State during the period of the state of emergency,” he added.
For final ratification, Akpabio put the proclamation to a voice vote, stating, “Those in favor of the proclamation of the state of emergency 2025 in Rivers State, say aye,” to which all Senators responded affirmatively.
Visibly satisfied with the outcome, Akpabio remarked, “This approval has been done with unanimity, without a single ‘nay.'”
“Therefore, pursuant to Section 60 of the Constitution, Section 305 (2), our rules, Rule 1 (b) of the Senate Standing Orders, and Rules 133, 134, 135, and 136, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved the State of Emergency Proclamation in Rivers State and taken other vital resolutions”, he concluded.
Following this, the Senate adjourned for one hour, reconvened to pass votes and proceedings of the session, and finally adjourned until Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Earlier, before the Senate moved into the closed-door session, a mild altercation occurred between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West).
The disagreement began when Senator Dickson raised a point of order after Akpabio read the gazette on the proclamation and asked the Senate Leader to guide the chamber toward its expeditious consideration.
As Dickson attempted to raise the point of order, Akpabio interrupted, stating that he was already aware of Dickson’s position, having seen him on television the previous day expressing views that would not align with the Senate’s stance.
“Senator Dickson, please hold on with your point of order. I heard all you said on television yesterday—that the Senate will not go with you on this issue, and we are not going to go with you,” Akpabio said.
“You are a former governor like myself and now a distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Let us act in the interest of Nigerians.”
However, when eventually allowed to speak, Senator Dickson invoked Order 135 of the Senate Standing Rules, which requires deliberations on a state of emergency to be conducted in a closed-door session.
Akpabio, upon hearing this, upheld Dickson’s point of order, after which the Senate moved into a closed-door session where the resolutions on the State of Emergency were adopted.
