The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
In a voice vote during Thursday’s plenary session, lawmakers gave their backing to the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the State House of Assembly.
The approval came after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read President Tinubu’s letter, officially presenting the request for debate.
243 lawmakers were reportedly in attendance during the plenary.
Tinubu’s emergency rule faced an obstacle on Wednesday when the House failed to vote due to low attendance. According to Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, any state of emergency must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate within 48 hours.
However, with fewer than 80 lawmakers present—far below the required 120 for a quorum—no decision could be reached. The debate was pushed to Thursday, when the House finally voted.
Tinubu, in a national broadcast on Tuesday, announced the suspension of Governor Fubara and his deputy, appointing retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the state’s sole administrator.
Many legal experts and opposition figures argue that the Nigerian Constitution does not give the President the power to remove an elected governor.
Despite the approval from the House of Representatives, the decision remains a highly controversial issue and is expected to draw comments across the country.