The senate has gone into a closed session to deliberate on President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The closed session was announced after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from Tinubu at plenary on Thursday.
Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele subsequently moved a motion for a closed session in pursuant to Order 135 of the senate rules.
The motion was seconded by senate minority leader Abba Moro.
The house of representatives had earlier in the day approved the president’s emergency rule proclamation in Rivers state.
The seal of approval was issued via voice vote during plenary in the green chamber.
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Prominent figures, including Anap Foundation founder Atedo Peterside, had asked the national assembly to avoid using voice votes to determine the issue.
“A two-thirds majority cannot be achieved via a voice vote. Members voting for or against the Resolution to ratify the President’s Emergency actions must identify themselves and cast their votes individually,” Peterside had said.
On Tuesday, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the south-south state, citing the protracted political crisis.
Apart from the governor, the president also suspended Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and all house assembly members for six months.
Tinubu nominated Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral and former chief of naval staff, as the administrator.
