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Senate goes into closed session to discuss Rivers emergency rule

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The Senate has gone into a closed session to discuss President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The closed session was announced after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from Tinubu at plenary in Abuja on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele thereafter moved a motion for a closed session in pursuant to Order 135 of the Senate rules.

The motion was seconded by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro.

The House of Reresentatives had earlier approved Tinubu’s request for emergency rule in Rivers State.

The lawmakers approved Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State via voice vote during plenary in Abuja on Thursday.

Reps approve emergency rule in Rivers

Tinubu had, on Tuesday, March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State for the next six months.

“It has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do,” the president declared.

By the declaration, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy were suspended for six months.

The Rivers State House of Assembly was also suspended for six months.

Tinubu, therefore, appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as administrator.

Tinubu sworn in Ibas, a former chief of naval staff, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, March 19.

The Star