Eyebrows raise as Reps approve Emergency Rule by Voice Vote

By, Onome Jackson

Many who had thought that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot by any chance get approval are in shock, raising voiced against voting method used.

The House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of state of emergency in Rivers state.

The approval for the president’s proclamation was given by voice vote by over 240 members during plenary in the House on Thursday.

The Senate will meet later today to consider the President’s request.

YOUNEWS learnt disturbing questions are being raised, .. Voice vote? For such a crucial legislation?

Decision is taken either by Voice Vote or actual counting of the people. By saying “by Voice Vote by over 240 members during plenary”, sounds abnormal. Yes, a minimum of 240/360 is what’s needed

“How do we ascertain the numbers that voted YES and those that voted NO.?

YOUNEWS reports that President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months following the political crisis that had rocked the state.

Two days after the move, Tinubu wrote to the National Assembly, seeking their approval for the emergency rule declaration.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbass read the president’s letter during a plenary session on Thursday.

When put in a voice vote, the lawmakers overwhelmingly backed President Tinubu’s declaration, approving his decision.

According to Abbass, 240 lawmakers attended the session, meaning there was a quorum.

The lower chamber granted approval during Thursday’s plenary session, making some minor amendments.

During the session, presided over by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, the House resolved that the National Assembly would serve as the legislative arm for the state while the state of emergency lasts.

It also resolved that if the political crisis in the state is resolved within six months, the president should lift the state of emergency.

However, the lawmakers overlooked Section 305(2) of the Constitution by passing the resolution without meeting the two-thirds requirement.

At the start of the deliberations, several lawmakers raised constitutional points of order. But former Deputy Speaker Idris Wase urged his colleagues to allow debate on the issue before raising concerns about the constitutional threshold.

After taking some few amendments, Mr Tajudeen put the request to a voice vote, and members present overwhelmingly voted in support