A credible source at the Nigerian National Assembly, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Intercept on Wednesday night that there are signs that Nigerian lawmakers are feeling pressured to revoke President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of emergency in Rivers State.
This comes as Tinubu has until today, Thursday, as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution, to revoke the proclamation.
Remember how President Tinubu suspended all democratically elected officials, including Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state parliament, on Tuesday and imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Nigerians have condemned Tinubu for his actions.
In accordance with Section 305 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, the president had declared a state of emergency due to insecurity and an unsolved conflict in the state.
While there are replete interpretations of section 303 of the Nigerian Constitution, part of the section requires that Tinubu’s state of emergency proclamation “must be presented before the National Assembly for approval within two days (if in session) or ten days (if not in session), failing which it ceases to have effect.”
In response to the situation, a trustworthy source at the National Assembly confirmed that the lawmakers are likely to rectify the emergency rule proclamation in Rivers State on Thursday (today).
According to The Intercept, both chambers of the National Assembly did not rectify President Tinubu’s proclamation of a Rivers State of Emergency during their plenary on Wednesday, meaning that Tinubu is under pressure to ensure that the National Assembly rectifies the proclamation on Thursday.
“I can reliably tell you that the proclamation will be rectified on Thursday. Many of us have been approached,” the source said.
The National Assembly’s official spokespersons, Yemi Adaramodu for the Senate and Akin Rotimi for the House of Representatives were unable to verify this assertion, though, for The Intercept.
`Recall that Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas was sworn in as Rivers State’s sole administrator by President Tinubu on Wednesday.
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On Wednesday, organised unions, including the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress, denounced the state of emergency in Rivers and demanded that it be lifted.
Senior attorneys and the presidential aspirants of the People’s Democratic Party and Labour Party in the 2023 election are among the opposition figures who have denounced Tinubu’s choice.
