The spokesman for the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi (APC-Ekiti), says lawmakers will debate President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers on Wednesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Mr Rotimi said Mr Tinubu had officially written the house of his decision in line with section 305 of the Constitution.

“Mr. President’s formal letter, informing the House of Representatives of his decision and seeking approval in line with Section 305 of the Constitution, has been transmitted.

“It will be read during plenary tomorrow, Wednesday, March 19, and further legislative action debated and decided,” he said.

Following the lingering political unrest between the executive and the legislature in Rivers, Mr Tinubu declared a state of emergency in a live broadcast on Tuesday.

The president suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected lawmakers of the Rivers House of Assembly for six months.

Mr Tinubu appointed a former Chief of Naval Staff,  Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the sole administrator of Rivers while the judiciary continued operations.

Following the influence of FCT minister Nyesom Wike on the political face-off, many stakeholders had threatened to embark on mass protests while others had commenced vandalising public property like oil pipelines.

Mr Rotimi, however, said the National Assembly was duly consulted before the president declared a state of emergency.

He said the leadership of the National Assembly met with the president and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, among other security chiefs, ahead of the broadcast. 

(NAN)