![Senate Adjourns Plenary On State Of Emergency As Tinubu Swears In Rivers Administrator [Video]](https://gists9ja.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1001748047.jpg)
The Senate has adjourned its plenary on the suspension of Sim Fubara, the Rivers State governor, and the president’s state of emergency declaration, delaying a decision on the matter.
Regardless of the legislature’s decision, President Bola Tinubu swore in Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as the sole administrator of Rivers under the state of emergency on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu announced the suspension of Fubara and the entire Rivers House of Assembly, citing pipeline vandalism by militants and political instability as reasons for declaring a state of emergency in the state.
Some minutes before 3 pm, during Wednesday’s session, Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Majority Leader, moved a motion to suspend deliberations, stating that various stakeholders needed to meet with committees before proceeding.
“Mr President of the Senate, I rise to move that we do suspend other items for today, to enable various committees to proceed with their committee meetings and attend to various stakeholders who have been invited to appear before various committees and other items be stepped down till another legislative day,” he said.
Patrick Abba Moro, the senate minority leader, also supported the motion.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio approved this motion and asked that the Senate reconvene by 11 am on Thursday.
According to Section 305(6)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, once the President declares a state of emergency, he must transmit the proclamation to the National Assembly, which has two days (if in session) or ten days (if not in session) to either approve or reject it.
Section 305(6): A Proclamation issued by the President under this section shall cease to have effect –
(a) If it is not approved by a resolution of the National Assembly within two days when it is in session or within ten days when not in session.
By adjourning the plenary, the Senate risks allowing the state of emergency declaration to lapse if it fails to reconvene and take action within the timeframe required by the Constitution.
