Tinubu’s Emergency Rule In Rivers Faces Setback As House Of Rep Shun Plenary

Abuja, Nigeria  – President Bola Tinubu’s emergency proclamation in Rivers State hit a major roadblock on Wednesday after lawmakers in the House of Representatives failed to form a quorum to deliberate on the matter.

The Nigerian Constitution, under Section 305, mandates that a state of emergency must be ratified within two days by a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

However, the lower chamber convened with less than 80 lawmakers present—far below the 120 members required for a simple quorum in the 360-member legislature.

Meanwhile, despite the emergency proclamation being listed on the House’s order paper, the absence of lawmakers meant no binding action could be taken.

According to House rules, without a quorum, the chamber can only engage in non-enforceable activities such as debating motions, hearing petitions, and passing resolutions.

People Gazette reports thar a lawmaker, who spoke anonymously, warned that proceeding with a vote without the required quorum would render the action legally questionable.

“People have been debating whether the president even has the power to declare emergency rule in the first place,” the lawmaker said. “Purporting to ratify the state of emergency without a quorum will only compound the illegality and make the atrocity even more transparent to all Nigerians.”

President Tinubu’s emergency rule order on Tuesday had also controversially removed Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, replacing him with retired military officer Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas.

The development has drawn sharp criticism from legal and political analysts, with concerns over constitutional breaches and executive overreach.

Many lawmakers avoided attending to prevent being on record supporting what constitutional scholars have widely criticized as blatant illegality.

The Nigerian Constitution grants the president the power to declare a state of emergency in all or part of the country but does not authorize the removal of a state governor.

In 2013, former President Goodluck Jonathan exercised similar powers to assume control of security in Boko Haram-ravaged Borno and Yobe states while allowing their elected governors and democratic institutions to remain intact.

At the time, opposition leader Bola Tinubu criticized Jonathan’s decision. However, he now defends his right to invoke the same constitutional provision on an even broader scale.