There are indications that Nigerian lawmakers at the National Assembly are under pressure to rectify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State.
A reliable source at the country’s National Assembly, who preferred anonymity, confirmed this on Wednesday night.
The development comes as Tinubu has till today, Thursday, as required by the Nigerian Constitution, to ratify the state of emergency proclamation in Rivers State.
Recall that President Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended all democratically elected authorities, including Simnilayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state house of assembly.
Tinubu’s decision had sparked condemnations from Nigerians.
The president had cited insecurity and an unresolved crisis in the state as reasons for the state of emergency declaration online with Section 305 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution.
While there are replete interpretations of section 303 of the Nigerian Constitution, part of the section requires that Tinubu’s state of emergency proclamation “must be presented before the National Assembly for approval within two days (if in session) or ten days (if not in session), failing which it ceases to have effect.”
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