Opposition lawmakers are gearing up for a showdown with President Bola Tinubu as he heads to the National Assembly to seek ratification and approval of the state of emergency he declared in Rivers on Tuesday over the unending political crisis, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

“The parliament will be very hot today,” a lawmaker said under anonymity to discuss the upcoming rancour. “Most opposition lawmakers are very angry, but their leaders in the House and Senate are controlled and loyal only to Nyesom Wike.”

Mr Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers on Tuesday after The Gazette had exclusively reported the president’s political plot, citing worsening political tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike.

During a televised broadcast, Mr Tinubu announced the immediate suspension of Mr Fubara, other elected officials in the state for six months and appointment of a former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as Rivers’ sole administrator, adding that the proclamation has been sent to the National Assembly for approval.

Ahead of the consideration of the proclamation by the House of Representatives and the Senate, which is expected to begin on Wednesday, the lawmaker told The Gazette that most of the opposition lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and other parties in the parliament were planning to oppose approval of the emergency rule.

This development of a united front poses a significant threat to any potential approval of Mr Tinubu’s declaration in the parliament, as Section 305(4) of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly must back the president’s decision for it to come into effect.

Despite recent defections to the All Progressives Congress, the party is far from getting a two-thirds majority in the national parliament against a united opposition as they have only gained 10 new members combined in both chambers. 

Mr Tinubu needs the backing of at least 72 lawmakers in the Senate and 240 in the House of Representatives for his proclamation to gain legal footing, and the APC is far from those figures in both chambers.

The APC has 57 and 162 seats in the Senate and House of Representatives respectively following the completion of the 2023 House of Assembly election.

It is unclear whether opposition lawmakers would be willing to work together to stop Mr Tinubu as the lawmaker who spoke to The Gazette alleged that Mr Wike controls minority leaders in the parliament.