The Nigerian House of Representatives has overwhelmingly voted in favour of President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The decision came during a plenary session on Thursday, where lawmakers debated the emergency rule imposed amid the ongoing political crisis in the oil-rich state.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, confirmed that 240 lawmakers attended the session, satisfying the quorum requirements.
The motion for approval was strongly supported by Hon. Odinaka Miriam Onuoha, who represents Okigwe North federal constituency of Imo State.
In her contribution, Onuoha not only backed the emergency declaration but also argued for a reduction in the six-month suspension period imposed on Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other affected officials.
“I rise to second this motion as moved by my brother that this house due support the proclamation in view that it should be reduced shorter than the six months period, when the two parties come to the table. Whether it is tomorrow or earlier than that. I so second the motion,” she stated during the session, which was monitored by SaharaReporters via NASS TV.
This latest development is expected to spark further controversy, as political stakeholders and civil society groups question the necessity of an emergency rule in Rivers State.
Critics argue that the move is a calculated attempt to suppress opposition forces and tighten federal control over the state’s governance.
The crisis in Rivers State has deepened in recent months, with allegations of power struggles, impeachment plots, and executive-legislative conflicts rocking the state. Fubara, who has been at the centre of the turmoil, now faces an uncertain future as federal authorities take over the state’s affairs.
With the House of Representatives’ approval secured, the Senate must now determine whether Tinubu’s controversial emergency declaration will receive full legislative backing.
Meanwhile, opposition figures and legal experts are already weighing the constitutional implications of the move, with some vowing to challenge it in court.