Abaribe: National Assembly Must Approve Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers

Abaribe: National Assembly Must Approve Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South in the National Assembly, has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State must be approved by federal lawmakers before it can take full effect.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Abaribe emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution requires the National Assembly’s approval for such declarations. He also noted that the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives would brief lawmakers on the situation but clarified that this might not necessitate a joint session of both chambers.

“I didn’t expect the state of emergency because I believed there was still room for a political resolution,” Abaribe remarked. “However, it is important to prevent a state of anarchy.”

Naija News reports that Tinubu’s announcement came after prolonged political tensions in Rivers State. The President, in a nationwide broadcast on March 18, 2025, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months. He also appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the state’s administrator.

While the move is intended to restore order, it has sparked debates over its constitutionality, with some political figures calling for its reversal. The National Assembly is now expected to deliberate on the matter in the coming days.