By John Audu
Abuja, Nigeria – Former Sokoto State Governor and current Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has challenged the Senate’s approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state of emergency proclamation in Rivers State, asserting that the required constitutional two-thirds majority was not met.
The Senate, following a closed-door session last Thursday, approved the proclamation through a voice vote. However, Tambuwal, a lawyer and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, argues that this approval falls short of the mandate outlined in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“What is required is that you must obtain and have two-thirds of all the members, of either of the two chambers, in support of the resolution,” Tambuwal told SundaySun. He stated that the constitutional requirement translates to 73 out of 109 senators. “From what I saw, there was no such number on the floor that day.”
Tambuwal emphasized that the Senate should have adhered to established precedents, citing previous state of emergency declarations under Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan, where the two-thirds majority was strictly observed. “What stops the current National Assembly from making reference to its own precedents?” he questioned.
President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, citing escalating political instability and pipeline vandalism. This led to the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state House of Assembly, with retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas appointed as administrator.
The political crisis in Rivers State stemmed from a rift between Governor Fubara and lawmakers aligned with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, and was exacerbated by impeachment proceedings and security concerns.
Following the Senate’s approval, allegations of financial inducements surfaced. SaharaReporters claimed that senators received cash at Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s guest house to secure their votes, with some reportedly receiving $10,000 and others $5,000. These allegations have been denied by legislative members.
The House of Representatives, through its deputy spokesman Hon. Philip Agbese, dismissed the bribery claims as “false” and “malicious.”
The situation has triggered a nationwide debate regarding the constitutional integrity of the emergency declaration and the legislative process, with critics expressing concern that the suspension of elected officials undermines democratic principles.
