By Frank Ulom and Bob Ramsey Ekat
Port Harcourt, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, 18th March, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following the political imbroglio since 2023.
The president, in a State National Broadcast, also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy Professor Ngozi Odu, for six months while Nyesom Wike remains the FCT Minister despite being accused of fueling the political crisis in Rivers.
He later appointed former Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (Rtd) to serve as the sole administrator of the state during this period.
To seal the State of Emergency in River State, Tinubu requires 2/3 of each of the Senate and House of Representatives.
As it stands, APC only has a simple majority in both houses.
If, within 48 hours after the announcement, Tinubu is unable to get a 2/3 from both Chambers, the declaration will become null and void, and Fubara, by Friday morning, will resume his functions as the Executive Governor of River State.
Here are the numbers:
SENATE
APC – 58
PDP – 37
Labour – 7
SDP – 2
NNPP – 2
APGA – 1
ADP – 1
Vacant Seat – 1
REPS:
APC – 175
PDP – 118
Labour – 35
NNPP – 19
APGA – 5
ADC – 2
SDP – 2
YPP – 1
Vacant Seats – 3
Judging from the records above,
The president requires 72 Senators to get a 2/3rd and would need an additional 14 Senators from the opposition and about 63 additional to get 240 Rep Members to get 2/3rd.
What this means is that, even if all APC Senators vote in support, they won’t still get the 72 Senators and even if all the APC Rep Members vote, they also won’t get it.
So, if the opposition parties can stick together or stay away from the Parliament, then Tinubu’s declaration is as good as dead.