Senate enters closed session to debate Rivers emergency rule
The Senate has entered a closed session to deliberate on President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials.
The closed session was announced after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from Tinubu at plenary on Thursday.
Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele subsequently moved a motion for a closed session, pursuant to Order 135 of the Senate rules.
The motion was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro.
PUNCH Online reports that Tinubu, on Tuesday night, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
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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 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.
