The Senate on Thursday has approved the declaration of a six -month state of emergence in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
The state of emergency was declared on Tuesday by Tinubu to restore peace to checkmate the lingering political crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the state house of assembly.
The Senate approved the state of emergency during a closed-door session.
The Senators invoked Section 305(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the President authority to impose emergency rule in cases of severe governance breakdown.
However, the Senators, mandated President Bola Tinubu to review the state of emergency periodically and consider its termination within six months.
Aside approving the emergency rule, the Senate resolved to invoke Section 11(4) of the Constitution, allowing the National Assembly to assume legislative functions for Rivers State during the suspension of its elected officials.
This means federal lawmakers will oversee legislative activities in the state until normalcy is restored.
The Senate also announced the setting up of a committee of eminent Nigerians to mediate between the feuding parties in Rivers State.
The House of Representatives had earlier in the day approved thr state of emergency as proclaimed by President Tinubu.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
