The Nigerian Senate has reportedly sent an urgent message, directing Ibok-Ete Ibas, the newly appointed Interim Administrator of Rivers State, to report directly to them instead of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
This decision follows the House of Representatives’ approval of emergency rule in Rivers State, which resulted in the removal of:
Governor Siminalayi Fubara,
Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and
Members of the state’s House of Assembly.
In response, President Bola Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas as Interim Administrator to oversee the state for an initial six-month period.
While the House of Representatives approved the emergency rule with some amendments, the Senate insisted that Ibas should report directly to them instead of the FEC.
Their decision is based on Section 11, Subsection 4 of the Nigerian Constitution, which allows the National Assembly to take over the legislative functions of a state in crisis.
The emergency declaration and Ibas’ appointment have sparked widespread criticism, with many seeing it as:
An attack on democracy,
A move to undermine Rivers State’s elected government.
The debate on the Rivers State crisis is ongoing, with further discussions expected in the National Assembly.
