A heated argument erupted in the House of Representatives on Wednesday as lawmakers prepared to debate the emergency rule in Rivers State.
According to PUNCH Online, two female lawmakers—Marie Ebikake (PDP, Bayelsa) and Blessing Amadi (PDP, Rivers)—engaged in a shouting match over the constitutionality of President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in the South-South state.
The altercation occurred before the commencement of plenary and nearly escalated before other lawmakers intervened.
President Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political crisis.
As part of the measures, he suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly for six months.
Tinubu also appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), to oversee the state’s administration.
Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, confirmed that the president formally informed the National Assembly through a letter before making the proclamation.
He added that Tinubu’s request for legislative approval, in line with Section 305 of the Constitution, had been transmitted to the green chamber and would be read during Wednesday’s plenary for further deliberation.
Rotimi also disclosed that before the official announcement, the president had consulted with the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly, the National Security Adviser, and the Service Chiefs.
