The Nigerian Senate has moved into a closed session to deliberate on President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. The emergency rule, which includes the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months, has sparked intense debate within the legislature.
The closed-door session was initiated shortly after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter on the matter during Thursday’s plenary. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele subsequently moved a motion for the private deliberation, citing Order 135 of the Senate rules, which was seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro.
Tinubu had, in a nationwide address on Tuesday night, defended his decision, attributing it to the ongoing political crisis, constitutional violations, and security risks in the oil-rich state. The prolonged power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike—now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory—has left Rivers State in a state of political turmoil.
To restore order, the President appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas as the sole administrator of the state. Ibas, who served as Nigeria’s Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021, is expected to oversee governance in the state until stability is restored.
As the Senate deliberates behind closed doors, political observers and stakeholders eagerly await the outcome, which could shape the future of governance in Rivers State and set a precedent for handling similar crises nationwide.
