The House of Representatives on Wednesday concluded its plenary session without addressing the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Despite expectations that the issue would be a key discussion point, lawmakers did not raise it during deliberations. However, before the session, a heated argument erupted between two female legislators, Blessing Amadi (Rivers State) and Marie Ebikake, over the emergency declaration.
During plenary, the House instead focused on investigating the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer Programme. Hon. Abass Adigun, who moved the motion, highlighted concerns over delays in payments to beneficiaries, some of whom were yet to receive the promised ₦50,000 for three months.
Meanwhile, the Senate deferred its debate on approving the state of emergency in Rivers to the next legislative session.
The motion, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, was scheduled as the first order of the day but was unexpectedly postponed. The motion cites rising tensions and security threats, including reports of pipeline vandalism and militant threats.
To approve the emergency rule, the Senate requires a two-thirds majority (73 out of 109 senators).
President Tinubu, in a nationwide address on Tuesday, declared the state of emergency, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months. He also appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) as administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.
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