Former Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), representing Abia South, has emphasized that the National Assembly must approve any state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, as required by the Constitution.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Abaribe was asked about the role of the National Assembly in the process.
He responded, “Well, I think the Constitution says very clearly that the National Assembly will have to approve it. And then, of course, if there’s any other regulation that needs to be made or anything else in line with the Constitution, that is what we will have to address in the National Assembly.”
When asked to explain the procedure, he said, “Well, the process will be that tomorrow, the Senate President and the Speaker will read the political commission and words.”
Addressing whether the process would require a joint sitting of both legislative chambers, Abaribe clarified, “I don’t think so. Joint sittings are usually held only when we have to receive the budget. So, I think the deliberations will take place separately, and we will see what happens. Eventually, we must reach a consensus. No one wants a situation where there is anarchy in the country. Nobody wants that.”
Reflecting on the situation, Abaribe admitted that he did not anticipate such a move. “I didn’t see it coming. I thought there was still a window to fix things—a window for a political settlement. But well, it has happened. We have to deal with it.”
