Former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State must be approved by the National Assembly before it takes effect.
Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Abaribe emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution is clear on the role of the legislature in such declarations.
“The Constitution states explicitly that the National Assembly must approve it,” Abaribe said. “Additionally, any necessary regulations or decisions in line with the Constitution will have to be addressed within the National Assembly.”
On how the process would unfold, he explained:
“The Senate President and the Speaker will read the official communication, and from there, deliberations will begin.”
When asked if a joint session of both legislative chambers would be required, he clarified:
“Joint sittings are rare and usually reserved for occasions like budget presentations. Each chamber will deliberate separately, but ultimately, we must reach a consensus. Nobody wants a situation where anarchy prevails.”
Abaribe admitted that he had not anticipated the declaration, believing there was still room for a political resolution.
“I thought there was still a window to fix things—a chance for a political settlement. But now that it has happened, we must deal with it accordingly,” he concluded.
