House of Representatives and the Senate, on Thursday, approved the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Both chambers of the National Assembly also approved the six-month suspension of Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the assembly, as announced by President Bola Tinubu.
In the House of Representatives, the lawmakers endorsed the President’s proclamation by voice vote during plenary.
But the Senate approved the proclamation of state of emergency imposed in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, by a resolution taken at Thursday’s closed-door session of the legislators to deliberate on the matter.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary in the House of Representatives, called on members to make their contribution during the consideration of the general principles of the President’s report.
Contributing, Benue lawmaker and deputy spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese recommended the setting up of a national mediation committee to broker peace between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, a prayer approved by the House.
Minority Whip of the House, on his part, recommended that the six-month suspension on the Rivers Governor and the State Legislature should not be cast in stone.
“If peace is reached between the two parties, the emergency rule should be lifted before six months,” he said.
The House also granted his prayer.
Earlier, the Speaker had read a letter from the President notifying the House of the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
Before the letter was read, the House dissolved into an executive session which lasted for about 10 minutes.
However, the Speaker overruled an attempt by Abia lawmaker, Obi Agwuncha, to stop the debate on the general principles of the letter, citing Section 305 (6b) of the Constitution, which requires that the House must have two-thirds of its members in plenary.
In the Senate, a closed door session was announced after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from Tinubu at the Thursday plenary.
Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, subsequently moved a motion for a closed session in pursuant to Order 135 of the Senate rules.
Bamidele’s motion was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro.
