The spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, has confirmed that the National Assembly was duly consulted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before he declared state of emergency Rivers on Tuesday.
President Tinubu had in a live broadcast on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency on the state following protracted crises between between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly loyal to Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of the state.
The President suspended Gov. Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and all elected lawmakers of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
Tinubu also appointed the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the Sole Administrator of Rivers while the judiciary continued operations.
However, while rejecting the declaration of state of emergency on Rivers, the Peoples Democratic Party on which platform Fubara was elected accused the President of violating the constitution by not consulting with the National Assembly before taking the action.
“In any case, nothing in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution relied upon by the President in the declaration grants him the exclusive powers to declare or execute the declaration of a state of emergency without recourse to the statutory approval of the National Assembly.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 305 (2) provides that ‘The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
“Each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the proclamation, PDP said in a statement by Debo Ologunagba, its National Publicity Secretary late Tuesday evening.
However, the House of Representatives Spokesperson confimed that President Tinubu met with the leadership of the National Assembly before he declared the state of emergency on Rivers.
He added that the leadership of the National Assembly also met with the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu among other security chiefs ahead of the broadcast in which the President declared state of emergency on Rivers State.
He confirmed in the statement that President Bola Tinubu had officially written the house of his decision in line with section 305 of the Constitution.
Rotimi said consequently, the House of Representatives will today, Wednesday 19 March, debate and take action the state of emergency declared on Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.
“Mr. President’s formal letter, informing the House of Representatives of his decision and seeking approval in line with Section 305 of the Constitution, has been transmitted.
“It will be read during plenary tomorrow, Wednesday, March 19, and further legislative action debated and decided,” he said.