The Senate also resolved that the state of emergency declared in the proclamation may be reviewed or terminated by the President at any time, but it must not exceed a period of six months. The senate has formally approved the proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers state, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration that cited the deepening political turmoil and worsening security situation in the oil-rich South-South state. The senate also resolved that the...
Sen. Bamidele moved a motion for the senate to go into executive session to discuss the Rivers.state of emergency declaration The senate has entered a closed-door session to deliberate on President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers state and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. This development followed the reading of President Tinubu’s official letter by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary session. Shortly after the correspondence was read, Senate Leader Opeyemi...
While no reason was officially offered for the delay in approving the state of emergency, observers say the decision may be linked to behind-the-scenes consultations. The senate on Wednesday, delayed its planned debate on the motion seeking approval for the proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State. The motion, which was listed as the first item on the order paper, was unexpectedly stepped down without any detailed explanation. Sponsored by the Leader of...
OrderPaper and BudgIT, leading civic tech organisations in Nigeria, have launched the advocacy to improve separation of powers in Nigeria. Two leading civic organisations, BudgIT and OrderPaper, have expressed deep concern over the weakening of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, citing increasing executive overreach, a compromised legislature, and a judiciary struggling to maintain independence. In a joint statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, both organisations decried the steady erosion of the constitutional principle of separation of powers,...
“It has become imperative to declare a state of emergency. By this declaration, Governor Fubara is hereby suspended.” President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the prolonged political crisis and breakdown of governance. He made the announcement during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night. Expressing deep concern over the situation, Tinubu stated: “Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis...
The annexation by Cameroon has led to the loss of over more than 2,560 oil wells and valuable gas reserves, resulting in significant economic loss to Nigeria. The senate has constituted an eight-member ad-hoc committee to probe the alleged annexation of maritime territories and mangrove island villages belonging to the Effiat clan in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State by the Republic of Cameroon. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored...
Sen. Nwoko argued that the absence of local offices for Facebook and others limits regulatory oversight, hampers data protection enforcement, and results in economic losses for Nigeria. The senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, mandating social media platforms to set up physical offices within the country. The bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate...
“I am being victimised. My suspension is a means of silencing me.” Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, (PDP, Kogi central), has described the Nigerian Senate as operating like a “cult,” where lawmakers avoid expressing dissenting opinions for fear of retaliation. Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her recent suspension was aimed at silencing her. Parliament Reports recalls that the senator was suspended from the red chamber on March 6 for what was described...
Kingibe emphasised that her previous comments were not meant to undermine Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims but to highlight her initial lack of awareness of the allegations. Sen. Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT), has vowed to champion the sexual harassment allegations raised by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi central). As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Kingibe has called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter. In a statement posted on her official X handle,...
The bill aims to grant voting rights to a critical segment of Nigerians who, due to the nature of their duties on election days, are unable to participate in the electoral process. The senate has taken a significant step toward expanding voting rights by advancing a bill that seeks to amend the Electoral Act, allowing Nigerians on essential duties to vote ahead of election day. The bill titled, “A Bill for an Act to Amend...
