ABUJA – THE Senate has invoked the powers conferred on it by Section 305 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and approved the six-month suspension slammed on Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.

The approval by the Senate through voice vote yesterday for the state of emergency in Rivers State was after about one and half hours closed doors session with brainstorming and lobbying.

Speaking after the closed door meeting on the resolutions reached by the Senators, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio said, “The Senate invoked the powers conveyed on it by Section 305 of Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( as amended ), approved the proclamation of state of emergency declared by Mr. President in Rivers State of Nigeria.

“The Senate further directs that the declaration of the state of emergency stated in the proclamation documents and demands of Mr. President to review and even to terminate the state of emergency at any given time, but not later than six months.

“The Senate further resolved that Section 11, Subsection 4 be invoked, providing the National Assembly the authority to set up a joint ad hoc committee of both chambers to oversight the administration of Rivers State henceforth.

“The Senate further resolved that a Committee of eminent Nigerians be set up to reconcile the warring groups within the government of River State within the period of the State of Emergency in River State.

“The Senate further resolved that a Committee of eminent Nigerians to reconcile the warring factions in Rivers State should be set up and carry out their action during the period of state of emergency.

” For final ratification , I put it to the Senate that those in favour of the proclamation of the state of emergency 2025 in Rivers State , should say aye “, which was affirmatively responded to , by all the Senators in the chamber.”

Akpabio who was impressed with the affirmative response to the question on approval of the State of Emergency by Senators, said ” this approval is done with unanimity without a single nay.”

The President of the Senate further said, ” Therefore , pursuant to section 60 of the constitution, section 305 (2) and pursuant to our rules, Rule 1 (b) of the standing orders of the senate and also pursuant to Rules 133, 134, 135 and 136 of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the State of Emergency Proclamation in Rivers State was approved and other vital resolutions taken.”

To give the entire process the required legislative backing, the Senate thereafter adjourned for one hour and reconvened later to pass the votes and proceedings of the entire session and finally adjourned to Tuesday, 25th March , 2025.

It was gathered that during the closed door session, there was a heated debate when individual Senators were expressing their positions as the decisions at the meeting were never unanimous because of sharp division among Senators who were for and Senators who were against the imposition of State of emergency, just as the stiff opposition was very high.

According to sources, quorum was not formed and they resolved to voice vote as against the rules, Senator Seriake Dickson, PDP, Bayelsa West; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, APGA, Abia South; Senator Aminu Tambuwal, PDP, Sokoto South and others stormed out of the chamber in anger.

We gathered that 64 Senators signed the attendance register, though the Presiding officers do not sign the register as they normally walk in into the Hallowed
Chamber with the Principal officers.

Earlier, Akpabio had informed his colleagues of President Bola Tinubu’s letter of proclamation to the Senate on the six-month suspension he slammed on Governor Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State.

The letter was read at plenary by the President of the Senate, Senator Akpabio.

The letter read, ” I 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 Ibas, as the Administrator to administer the State something to any instruction or regulation as made from time to time be issued by me.

“While I look forward to the expeditious Constitution of the Senate, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration. ”

Akpabio after reading the letter said, This letter is committed to the Committee of the entire Senate for Immediate passage, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central then raised Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders to suspend all other items in the Order Paper to discuss only the Proclamation letter, he was seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, PDP, Benue South and the Senate Immediately went into a closed door session.

Prior to the closed door session, there was mild altercation that ensued between the President of the Senate, Senator Akpabio and Senator Seriake Dickson.

The altercation reared its head when Senator Dickson raised a point of Order after Akpabio read written gazette on the Proclamation of State of Emergency to Senators and called on the Senate Leader to guide the Senate for its expeditious consideration .

As Senator Dickson raised the point of Order, Akpabio told him to sit down that he had already known where he stood on the State of Emergency having watched him on Television on Wednesday, where he said his views would not align with that of the Senate.

Akpabio and Dickson disagreed sharply over the procedure for handling President Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, just as problem started when the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion to amend the order of proceedings, allowing the Senate to prioritize debate on the state of emergency before attending to other items on the order paper.

However, just as Bamidele rose to present the motion, Sen. Dickson raised a point of order, seeking to draw attention to what he described as a procedural requirement that the senate should first convene a closed-door session before debating such a sensitive matter.

Akpabio appeared reluctant to acknowledge Dickson’s point of order. As Dickson pressed on, repeatedly calling for recognition saying, “Point of Order! Let me make my point, please,” Akpabio instructed the Bayelsa lawmaker to turn off his microphone.

Rather than yielding the floor, Akpabio accused Dickson of already taking a public stance against the Senate’s position. “Senator Seriake Dickson, let’s not argue. If we argue, it won’t be good for any of us.

“We are all distinguished people. You were a former governor, and I was a former governor. Please turn off your mic and sit down. I watched you on television. You said whatever the Senate does, the Senate will never go with you.
“I said you said whatever the Senate does, the Senate will never have your vote.
“I don’t know but if you have already made up your mind to go on television when the Senate has not done anything or considered any issue, I am not arguing with you, but I say, please allow me to preside.”

In his response, Dickson insisted on his right to be heard, stressing the need for mutual respect among senators. “Mr Senate President, you know we must have mutual respect for all our colleagues, and I do have regard for you, particularly, as our presiding officer and I think that should be reciprocal.”

Sensing the rising tension, Akpabio eventually acknowledged Dickson’s point of Order

However, when finally allowed to raise the point of order , Seriake Dickson , drew attention of the Senate to Orders 133 of the Senate Standing rules , which required matter of state of emergency to be deliberated upon in closed doors session.

Akpabio upon hearing that , upheld his point of order , which was later held by the Senate where all its resolutions were taken on the State of Emergency .

The position Dickson brought the attention of his colleagues to was Proceedings on Proclamation of a State of Emergency

Order 133 reads, “When the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by instrument published in the Gazette of the Government of the Federation issues a Proclamation of a State of Emergency in the Federation or any part thereof, he shall immediately after the publication:
(a) Transmit copies of such Gazette containing the Proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate, and (b) Provide a compendium of background information on the circumstances of the Receipt of emergency.

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“134. On receipt of the documents afore-stated, the President of the Senate shall: (a) If the Senate is in Session forthwith convene the Senate; (b) If the Senate is not in Session, cause the Clerk of the Senate to issue a notice convening the Senate within three working days.

“135. The President shall in a Closed Session brief the Senate on the circumstances of the Proclamation of a State of Emergency and thereafter make available to the Senators the documents as provided by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“136. Except the Senate by a unanimous decision directs, the Senate shall then forthwith resolve into a Committee of Whole for the consideration of the Proclamation and on reporting progress, the Senate shall decide in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria approving the Proclamation.”

Prior to reading President Tinubu’s Proclamation letter, soon after the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio entered the hallowed Chamber at 11,57am with normal pleasantries of hand shake with Colleagues, the day’s plenary session commenced at 12noon with the National Anthem and thereafter the prayer at 12.01pm.

The motion for the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday was adopted by Senator Barinada Mpigi, PDP, Rivers South East and seconded by Senator Idiat Adebute, APC, Lagos West.

President Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure.

The crisis, which had paralysed governance in the oil-rich state, stems from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

As part of the directive, the President also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored. Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.