{"id":4905,"date":"2025-03-20T12:22:12","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T12:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/?p=4905"},"modified":"2025-03-20T12:22:23","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T12:22:23","slug":"house-of-reps-fails-to-vote-on-tinubus-emergency-rule-in-rivers-state-low-turnout-at-plenary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beadysword.com.ng\/blog\/2025\/03\/20\/house-of-reps-fails-to-vote-on-tinubus-emergency-rule-in-rivers-state-low-turnout-at-plenary\/","title":{"rendered":"House Of Reps Fails To Vote On Tinubu’s Emergency Rule In Rivers State, Low Turnout At Plenary"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

However, with less than 80 lawmakers in attendance \u2014 far below the required 120 members needed to form a quorum in the 360-member chamber \u2014 no decision could be taken on the President\u2019s controversial declaration in Rivers State.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

The House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to vote on President Bola Tinubu\u2019s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State following a low turnout of the lawmakers at the House\u2019s plenary.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Nigerian Constitution, under Section 305, mandates that a presidential declaration of emergency must be ratified by a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate within two days of issuance.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

However, with less than 80 lawmakers in attendance \u2014 far below the required 120 members needed to form a quorum in the 360-member chamber \u2014 no decision could be taken on the President\u2019s controversial declaration in Rivers State.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The House convened on Wednesday morning with the emergency proclamation listed under messages from the president.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, due to the low turnout, lawmakers were unable to take any binding action, as House rules require a one-third quorum for decisions that can withstand legal scrutiny.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The lack of quorum meant the chamber could only engage in non-binding activities such as debating motions and hearing petitions.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reports indicate that many lawmakers intentionally stayed away from the plenary session to avoid being recorded as supporting what some constitutional experts have described as an unconstitutional act.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

President Tinubu\u2019s declaration, announced on Tuesday evening during his nationwide broadcast, included the suspension of Rivers State Governor Simi Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Odu and State House of Assembly members.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

President Tinubu also replaced Governor Fubara with retired Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as sole administrator.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, legal scholars and opposition figures have argued that while the Nigerian Constitution allows the president to declare a state of emergency in all or parts of the country, it does not grant the president the authority to remove an elected governor.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The president\u2019s decision has drawn comparisons to a similar emergency declaration in 2013, when then-President Goodluck Jonathan took over security operations in Boko Haram-ravaged Borno and Yobe states but allowed the elected governors and democratic institutions to remain in place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tinubu, who was in the opposition at the time, had strongly condemned Jonathan\u2019s action.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, now in power, Tinubu who also attacked former President Olusegun Obasanjo over similar action in 2006, is defending his right to take an even more expansive approach to emergency rule.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

With the House failing to reach a quorum, the status of the emergency proclamation remains uncertain.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Constitutional experts warn that any attempt to push it through without proper legislative approval could be challenged in court, setting the stage for a significant legal battle.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

However, with less than 80 lawmakers in attendance \u2014 far below the required 120 members needed to form a quorum in the 360-member chamber \u2014 no decision could be taken on the President\u2019s controversial...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4906,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t