Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Ireti Kingibe has declared her stand on the voice voting procedure used by the red chamber to okay the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on Friday, Kingibe, who was elected under the platform of the Labour Party, said she strongly opposed the procedure adopted by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
She explained that the Nigerian Constitution “explicitly mandates that a state of emergency proclaimed by the President must be ratified by a “two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly”, and not through voice vote.
According to her, a voice vote, where members of the National Assembly express agreement by saying “Aye” or “Nay,” “cannot precisely measure the required two-thirds majority”.
She insisted that such a procedure is insufficient to determine a two-thirds majority in the upper and lower chambers especially for an emergency proclamation.
She noted that a “formal recorded vote is crucial to confirm the exact number of lawmakers in support”.
“A two-thirds (2/3) majority is required for significant decisions like approving an emergency proclamation in the National Assembly, and this level of consensus CANNOT be accurately determined by a voice vote.
“According to Section 305(2) & (6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), an emergency proclamation must receive the approval of at least two-thirds of all members of each House the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“When a supermajority like two-thirds is needed, a recorded vote — whether through division voting, roll call, or electronic voting is necessary to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.
“The Senate Standing Orders and House Rules generally mandate a roll call or electronic voting system to accurately determine numerical compliance for decisions of this magnitude”, the statement added.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and ex-Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Monday, met in Abuja.
The former leaders met during a colloquium to celebrate the 60th birthday of former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha.
The event which was held at the Ladi Kwali Hall of the Abuja Continental Hotel was chaired by Obasanjo.
Posting on his X page, Atiku wrote: “Today, I joined family, friends, and leaders, including my former boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, at the 60th birthday colloquium in Abuja in honour of former Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Chief Emeka Ihedioha, @EmekaIhedioha.
“For a patriot, and long-standing associate like Ihedioha, birthdays are a moment of reflection. Your birthday is a time to appreciate you for your unwavering support all through the years. More than anything, it is a moment to thank the Almighty for His blessings and grace upon you. As you celebrate today, I am happy to join many other well-wishers of yours to pray for you for many more years in good health and service to humanity. Happy birthday, Emeka, and do have the best of the day.”
This comes days after Atiku, Ihedioha, and other opposition leaders, including a representative of Obi held a press conference at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.
They had announced a move to birth a coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
During the press conference, Atiku hinted at a possible coalition of opposition parties to challenge Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2027 elections.
Justice Emmanuel, Akomaye Agim, of the Supreme Court who delivered the judgment that restored the 27-pro Wike lawmakers into the Rivers State House of Assembly has denied following the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike to the last Convocation ceremony of the University of Calabar.
He claimed that he attended the ceremony as a honouree and an alumnus of the institution, whom the Governing Council had conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law (Doctor Honoris Causa).
The clarification of the Justice was contained in a press release issued on Monday by Dr Akande Festus, Director of Information & Public Relations of the apex court.
Justice Agim delivered the controversial judgments that ordered the federal government to withhold financial allocations to Rivers State and which subsequently led to the suspension of democratic government in the state.
The statement read in part “In light of the reports circulating on social media and other news platforms, we wish to clarify the circumstances surrounding the attendance of Hon. Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim of the Supreme Court of Nigeria at the convocation ceremony of the University of Calabar on Saturday, 22nd March, 2025.
“It has come to our attention that misleading information has emerged, suggesting that Hon. Justice Emmanuel Agim accompanied the Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike to the ceremony.
“We hereby dispel this false narrative. Hon. Justice Agim attended the convocation as an esteemed honouree and an alumnus of the institution, whom the Governing Council had found worthy to be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law (Doctor Honoris Causa).
“He was recognized for his significant contributions to the legal profession; which is a reflection of his commitment to justice, integrity, and the rule of law, serving as a model for aspiring legal professionals and students alike.
“Hon. Justice Agim was scheduled to attend the burial ceremony of Hon. Justice Stanley Alagoa alongside other Hon. Justices of the Supreme Court in Bayelsa State but sought permission to go for the convocation ceremony.
“We wish to emphasize that Justice Emmanuel Agim’s participation at the ceremony was independent and not as an official representative of any government ministry or department, let alone accompanying any serving or retired government official.
“Any insinuation to the contrary is not only inaccurate but undermines the judicial independence that is crucial to our democracy.
“We encourage the public and media to verify information through credible sources before sharing or publishing to prevent the spread of misinformation”, the statement said.
Sowore said the President’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State amounts to anarchy, as Tinubu unilaterally removed a democratically elected governor and installed a sole administrator.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has accused President Bola Tinubu of sacrificing the entire Rivers State to a political godfather, Nyesom Wike, who happens to be his friend, against the wishes of the state’s people.
Sowore said the President’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State amounts to anarchy, as Tinubu unilaterally removed a democratically elected governor and installed a sole administrator.
Speaking on Channels TV Thursday morning about the president’s declaration, Sowore said, “It is important to state here that we are witnessing impunity in its most obvious form.”
He said when the president of a country can sacrifice an entire state—one of Nigeria’s richest and most prominent states—on the altar of political convenience to please a godfather who is his friend, then Nigerians are in trouble.
The human rights activist alleged that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency because his political ally, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, had helped him win the presidency through “electoral manipulation” in the state.
Sowore further alleged that Tinubu and Wike’s main objective is to control the state’s treasury and are already strategising for future elections.
“They’re looking at how to manipulate the next election cycle. That is the motivation behind all of this. Every step leading up to this move was designed to consolidate power for the godfather,” he said.
He continued: “What I find despicable and unacceptable is that certain people in this country can predictably engage in undemocratic actions, and they will get away with it.
“They make it clear that they do not care about the people, institutions, or democracy itself. They simply remove a governor who refuses to play along by surrendering the state’s resources, and then they impose a sole administrator overnight.
“They didn’t even wait for the National Assembly—which, pardon my words, which I called ‘useless’—to take a position on the matter. They rushed ahead with their plan because their ultimate goal was to release the state’s funds to an illegitimate appointee who was not elected by the people of Rivers State.
“Initially, the Supreme Court ruled to halt the state’s allocation until certain democratic principles were resolved. But instead of addressing those concerns, they have completely abandoned democracy altogether.”
Sowore expressed scepticism that the National Assembly would intervene, arguing that the lawmakers were only waiting to rubber-stamp the decision.
“Even if they don’t have the numbers, they will come up with some justification to push this through. But what matters is that Nigerians wake up. They have been too complacent, too quiet, and perhaps too cowardly. More people are now realising the need to come together and reclaim the country,” he said.
He stated that Nigeria cannot progress when those in power actively work against it.
“Those expected to bring progress are doing the opposite. That is why I hope this crisis will force Nigerians to rise and take action. I’m not calling for mayhem; they are the ones who have introduced mayhem into our politics. Justice is not about maintaining peace in the graveyard—it’s about fairness and accountability,” he said.
Sowore also criticised the role of Nigeria’s Attorney General (Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in enabling impunity and illegality.
He said, “One of the biggest crises in Nigeria was the annulment of the June 12 election, and that decision was driven by advice from an Attorney General. Every time we face impunity, dictatorship, or unjust laws, the Attorney General is often the enabler. Maybe we should start scrutinising that office more closely.
“It doesn’t matter who holds the position—once they become Attorney General, they take on a certain arrogance and impunity. They defend indefensible actions, like this unconstitutional takeover of Rivers State. The Attorney General surely knows this is wrong, but they do not care.
“They know Nigerians will move on, and that’s why they keep getting away with these actions. But I hope Nigerians won’t let this slide, just as they should not overlook other attacks on their rights.”
Sowore further dismissed accusations of promoting anarchy, arguing that the federal government in Rivers State imposed the real anarchy.
“Somebody imposed his friend on a state that already has elected officials. Soldiers have been sent in, the governor has been driven out—this is anarchy. So why are you accusing me of promoting anarchy? If there’s anarchy, it is the federal government that has imposed it on Rivers State,” he said.
However, Sowore reiterated his stance that Nigeria’s democracy is under siege.
“I don’t care about labels. If speaking the truth makes me an ‘anarchist,’ so be it. But what we are discussing here is not anarchy—it is the blatant destruction of democracy,” he added.
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