A heated exchange erupted in the House of Representatives on Wednesday as lawmakers prepared to debate President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.

The shouting match began before the plenary session as legislators argued over the constitutionality and necessity of the emergency declaration, which has led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the state assembly members for six months.

Tinubu’s Justification for Emergency Rule

On Tuesday, President Tinubu suspended Rivers’ elected officials and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), former Chief of Naval Staff, as the state administrator. The move was in response to the prolonged political crisis in the South-South state.

According to House of Representatives spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, Tinubu followed due process by:

• Sending a letter to the National Assembly to notify them of the emergency rule.
• Meeting with the leadership of both chambers, as well as the National Security Adviser and Service Chiefs, before making the decision.

Rotimi confirmed that Tinubu’s letter will be read in plenary today, setting the stage for a heated debate.

Opposition Reactions

The declaration of emergency rule has been met with widespread criticism:

• Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru defended the move, blaming Governor Fubara’s administration for the instability.
• Labour Party’s Peter Obi called it “unconstitutional and reckless”.
• PDP governors accused Tinubu of bias and divisiveness, questioning why similar actions were not taken in other crisis-ridden states.

As the debate unfolds, the National Assembly’s final stance on the emergency rule in Rivers will be crucial in determining the future of governance in the state.