The Senate on Wednesday, 19 March, 2025 suspended its plenary and announced that the debate on the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu has been shifted to Thursday, 20 March, 2025.
The postponement was announced after the Senate leadership delayed the commencement of its plenary for about two hours when the majority of the serving senators across party lines had not fully taken their seats.
The debate was delayed till 3pm without much explanation when the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, (APC Ekiti Central) who sponsored the motion, moved to step it down by citing Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended).
The motion was seconded by Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), and the Chamber moved on to the next item without further debate.
The motion, as proposed by Bamidele, expresses apprehension over the deteriorating security situation in Rivers State.
“Worried that there is a clear and present danger of the crises as some militants had threatened fire and brimstone, with security reports indicating disturbing incidents of vandalization of oil pipelines.
“Convinced that there is the need to provide adequate and extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order, and security in Rivers State,” the motion read in part.
To approve the declaration, the Senate requires a two-thirds majority (73 out of 109 senators) to allow the emergency rule to take effect.
There was, however, a palpable fear that the House may not meet the requirement on Thursday, 20 March, 2025.
Eventually, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio put the postponement of the debate and suspension of the plenary to voice vote, which was affirmatively responded to by many of the Senators.
On Tuesday night, Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the extraordinary measure.
The crisis, which had paralysed governance in the oil-rich state, stems from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The President also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored.
Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
