Senate Postpones Decision on Rivers State Emergency Declaration

The Nigerian Senate has delayed its decision on approving the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, opting to revisit the matter on Thursday.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele proposed postponing the discussion to the next legislative day, a motion swiftly seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro. When Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a voice vote, a majority of lawmakers backed the delay.

The motion, originally slated as the first item for debate, was put on hold without any deliberation.

According to the Senate’s order paper, lawmakers acknowledged that the ongoing crisis in Rivers State had effectively brought governance to a standstill, depriving residents of democratic dividends.

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“The Senate observes that the magnitude of the crises has overwhelmed the state government, as parties involved have failed to exercise restraint to restore peace,” the motion stated. “This has necessitated federal government intervention to ensure security, stability, and good governance.”

The postponement comes just a day after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, following a prolonged political crisis that has crippled the state’s administration.