River State "State of emergency" declaration has to be approved by The National Assembly.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the former Minority Leader of the Senate of Abia South has stated that the state of emergency which was issued to River State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu requires the approval of the National Assembly.
On Tuesday, Abaribe was asked to speak on the role of the National Assembly in an interview with Arise TV. He said, “Well, I think the Constitution says very clearly that the National Assembly will have to approve it.
“And then, of course, if there’s any other regulation that needs to be made or anything else in line with the Constitution, that is what we will have to address in the National Assembly.”
“Well, the process will be that tomorrow, the Senate President and the Speaker will read the political commission and words.” He made this statement when he was asked what the process entails.
When he was asked if the process would involve a joint sitting of both chambers, he said: “I don’t think so. Joint sittings are usually held only when we have to receive the budget.
“So, I think the deliberations will take place separately, and we will see what happens. Eventually, we must reach a consensus. No one wants a situation where there is anarchy in the country. Nobody wants that.
“I didn’t see it [coming]. I thought there was still a window to fix things—a window for a political settlement. But well, it has happened. We have to deal with it.”
