Olusegun Ariyo
Nigerians on social media have come out to vent their minds on the Recently Invoked state of Emergency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu In Rivers State saying all eyes are on them
President Bola Tinubu Had on Wednesday, 18th of March 2025 Invoked some Section of the 1999 Constitution to Declare a state of Emergency while suspending all Democratic Structures in the state.
The Development has since Sparked Criticism from the Nigeria Bar Association, Ijaw Elders, and many other Nigerians
While the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, in An interview threw more light on the decision of the President, many including veteran Journalist, Dr Reuben Abati Says, President Erred for Suspending the Democratically Elected Representatives in the state
The Section of the law meanwhile will need Two-thirds of the senators that attend to it before it becomes law, meanwhile, Nigerians on social media are saying the Senate Should rather use individual votes instead of a Voice vote in order to know those for or against
A two-thirds majority vote must be achieved for the National Assembly to approve the proclamation.
Urban Express News Online reports that the red chamber on Wednesday differed a motion to approve the proclamation of a State of Emergency till the next legislative date after stepping down a motion sponsored by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.
An activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju earlier raised an alarm alleging that the president of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio was planning to use voice votes to secure the approval.
“URGENT INFO FROM A SENATOR: There is an urgent need to let Nigerians know that both Akpabio and Abass plan to use voice vote this morning to pass the emergency vote”, he posted on his Facebook page.
According to the lawyer, such would be “contrary to the 1999 Constitution as amended which stipulates 2/3rd votes”.
Similarly, a popular Nigerian businessman, Atedo Peterside said in a post on his official X handle that a “two-thirds majority cannot be achieved via a voice vote”.
According to him, “On the Rivers State Crisis, all eyes are on the National Assembly. A two-thirds majority cannot be achieved via a voice vote.
“Members voting for or against the Resolution to ratify the President’s Emergency actions must identify themselves and cast their votes individually”.
Also, a famous socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu said in a post on her X handle that it must be achieved through physical counting with names of the lawmakers.
She urged Nigerians to call their “senators and House of Representatives members and tell them to vote with their full chest!
“They cannot nay and yay their way out of this one.
“A two-thirds is needed and a two-thirds has to be counted physically and their names are written”.
