Nigeria’s Senate and House of Representatives have approved President Bola Tinubu’s March 18, 2025, declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State before the expiration of the 48-hour constitutional deadline, despite widespread criticism.

In separate voice votes, the 109-member Senate and the 360-member House of Representatives both dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) endorsed the emergency rule in the oil-rich Niger Delta state.

Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, President Tinubu declared the emergency to prevent further escalation of the state’s political crisis. As part of the proclamation, he suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly members for six months, appointing retired naval chief Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd) as the state’s sole administrator.

The move has drawn outrage from prominent figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi, as well as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Labour Party (LP), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They condemned the suspension of elected officials as unconstitutional and a dangerous precedent for democracy.

However, the pro-Nyesom Wike lawmakers in Rivers State supported the emergency rule, accusing Fubara of defying a Supreme Court ruling on the crisis.

Despite public appeals to reject the measure, the House of Representatives approved it on March 20, with 240 lawmakers backing the decision. Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced amendments, including:

• Forming a committee of eminent Nigerians to mediate during the emergency.
• Requiring the administrator to report to the National Assembly rather than the Federal Executive Council.
• Allowing for an early review or termination of the emergency rule if peace is restored.

Similarly, the Senate, led by Godswill Akpabio, approved the emergency and formed a joint committee with the House to oversee the state’s administration.

President Tinubu praised the lawmakers for their support, but many Nigerians have criticized the National Assembly’s stance, accusing it of rubber-stamping executive overreach and undermining democracy.