₦airaland Forum

How Senate Approved Rivers Emergency Rule Without Getting Required Two-thirds Majority – Tambuwal Exposes

Former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has argued that the Senate did not meet the constitutional two-thirds majority required to approve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.
Naija News reports that the Senate, last Thursday, held a closed session to deliberate on the president’s proclamation and later approved it during plenary through a voice vote.

However, Tambuwal, who represents Sokoto South in the 10th Senate, disclosed to Sunday Sun that the necessary two-thirds majority—73 out of 109 senators—was not reached, thus violating Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Tambuwal, who was present during the closed session deliberation, emphasized the constitutional requirements for declaring a state of emergency.

He stated, “Section 305 of the Constitution is very clear. It is unambiguous, the language is very plain, of the Constitution as to first, how the president can declare a state of emergency and what is required of the legislature, the two chambers – both the Senate and the House of Representatives before passing such a resolution.”

He further explained, “What is required is that you must obtain and have two-thirds of all the members, of either of the two chambers, in support of the resolution.”

Regarding the Senate’s approval, Tambuwal noted that he observed there were not enough senators present to meet the constitutional requirement.

“I don’t know whether members of your team, who are members of the press corps, had the privilege of checking the (Senate) register to see whether there were up to 72, 73 senators on the floor. From what I saw, there was no such number on the floor on that day,” he said.

He added, “So, if you juxtapose that to the requirement of the Constitution which says that the Senate must have two-thirds of its members… to pass that resolution, it means that what was done fell short of the provision of the Constitution.”

Tambuwal also pointed out that the National Assembly ignored its own precedents in approving the proclamation.

He highlighted previous instances of state-of-emergency declarations, such as during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration and under President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, when the required two-thirds majority was strictly adhered to.

“What stops the current National Assembly from making reference to its own precedents that are domiciled within its own library, within its own records? I can’t understand that. So, it’s part of the problem,” he added.

https://www./2025/03/23/how-senate-approved-rivers-emergency-rule-without-getting-required-two-thirds-majority-tambuwal-exposes/?utm_source=operamini&utm_medium=feednews&utm_campaign=operamini_feednews

Let the impunity continue.

Let those who support impunity continue to do so.

But one day, no matter how long it takes, the tables will turn.

The apc has brought governance at the centre to its lowest ebb in Nigeria’s post colonial history. Never has the country had it this bad in all ramifications - from a worsening economic situation for the masses to blatant impunity and disregard for due process.

Oga Waziri no mind am abeg...

Na cocaine dey disturb him brain, so he can no longer reason rationally like a normal human being

Desperation
Impunity
Rascality
Criminality
Intimidation

Akpabio is a politician with so many baggages.

His Political existence depends on being rubber stamp.

I don't know how his children reading all these about him feel. Too bad.

Go to court

The senators don't have to be present. Their voice note votes is enough to get the approval

We kuku have so many educated illiterates in Nigeria

helinues:
Go to court

The senators don't have to be present. Their voice note votes is enough to get the approval

They don't?

Please post what makes you come to the conclusion they can vote with "voice notes", whatever that is.

Still, yes. Court.

budaatum:
They don't?

Please post what makes you come to the conclusion they can vote with "voice notes", whatever that is.

Still, yes. Court.

Is it only Nigeria that first used voice note to vote in legislative chamber?

helinues:
Go to court

The senators don't have to be present. Their voice note votes is enough to get the approval

We kuku have so many educated illiterates in Nigeria

Helinues

State one progress of Bobo Chicago through the nays & ya 's

Is that what your constitution dictates? 2/3 majority mudt be accompanied with the presented register on the day the votes took place

Where is the register ? Do you also know that thos senators who formed the 2/3 quorum must be known with their signature appended to their votes

See the comment & lies you stated up there & you expect sane people to ignore you, your lies, deceit & propaganda

helinues:
Is it only Nigeria that first used voice note to vote in legislative chamber?

Sir, you are avoiding my question!

Where does it say voice note votes are acceptable in the legislative chamber in Nigeria?

budaatum:
Sir, you are avoiding my question!

Where does it say voice note votes are acceptable in the legislative chamber in Nigeria?

State of Emergency was declared in Rivers state. Take note of the word emergency

So if the approval at the Senate is also emergency, how do you expect all the senators to be present as at the time of voting?

If they won't be available physically to vote, how then would you have expected them to have voted?

helinues:
State of Emergency was declared in Rivers state. Take note of the word emergency

So if the approval at the Senate is also emergency, how do you expect all the senators to be present as at the time of voting?

If they won't be available physically to vote, how then would you have expected them to have voted?

Sir, you are avoiding my question!

Where does it say voice note votes are acceptable in the legislative chamber in Nigeria if you are not physically there, emergency or not?

budaatum:
Sir, you are avoiding my question!

Where does it say voice note votes are acceptable in the legislative chamber in Nigeria if you are not physically there, emergency or not?

Voice note votes was introduced during COVID-19. Not only Nigeria but globally, but that doesn't mean it's in any constitution

helinues:
Voice note votes was introduced during COVID-19. Not only Nigeria but globally, but that doesn't mean it's in any constitution

Perhaps, introduced in some countries as a temporary measure during covid lockdown.

There is no covid now, so where does it say voice note votes are acceptable now?

helinues:
Go to court

The senators don't have to be present. Their voice note votes is enough to get the approval

We kuku have so many educated illiterates in Nigeria

former chairman agbero union nairaland branch,so this is how it's should be done .well that's how agbero union works Sha so na illiterates they una union

ivandragon:
Let the impunity continue.

Let those who support impunity continue to do so.

But one day, no matter how long it takes, the tables will turn.

The apc has brought governance at the centre to its lowest ebb in Nigeria’s post colonial history. Never has the country had it this bad in all ramifications - from a worsening economic situation for the masses to blatant impunity and disregard for due process.

if this was the period of OBj seeking for a 3rd term this bunch of idiots would have approved it with a voice vote

budaatum:
Perhaps, introduced in some countries as a temporary measure during covid lockdown.

There is no covid now, so where does it say voice note votes are acceptable now?

You question is becoming petty

I didn't write my above epistle in Greek

helinues:
Voice note votes was introduced during COVID-19. Not only Nigeria but globally, but that doesn't mean it's in any constitution

You are clearly misrepresenting what voice not voting is. You still have to be in the chambers to voice note vote, and you can't determine two thirds by members shouting yae or nae.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/782206-rivers-crisis-nigerian-lawmakers-use-voice-votes-to-determine-matter-requiring-two-thirds.html

budaatum:
You are clearly misrepresenting what voice not voting is. You still have to be in the chambers to voice note vote, and you can't determine two thirds by members shouting yae or nae.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/782206-rivers-crisis-nigerian-lawmakers-use-voice-votes-to-determine-matter-requiring-two-thirds.html

Is what you posted above also in the constitution?

The word emergency which I referred to above, what should happen to it in this scenario?

How would you have expected the senators who are not present to vote on a matter of emergency?

specialmati:
please stop all this your senseless comments na Biko

The same comments which I am engaging others with?

It's obvious you are only trolling for fun.

Mods are coming for you

helinues:
You question is becoming petty.

This view of yours shows how unimportant you think this is.

https://youtube.com/shorts/uOLpxxCx20o?si=yNGPV3PwRv-Nd670

helinues:
Is what you posted above also in the constitution?

The word emergency which I referred to above, what should happen to it in this scenario?

How would you have expected the senators who are not present to vote on a matter of emergency?

Apart from them having to be present to form a quorum, a yea-nay vote, which is not counted as shown in the video above, would not show two-thirds.

helinues:
The same comments which I am engaging others with?

It's obvious you are only trolling for fun.

Mods are coming for you

you are always crying to the mod .what is wrong with my comment

specialmati:
you are always crying to the mod .what is wrong with my comment

What's the meaning of Agbero bla bla. How does that relate to the topic?

You want to be derailing threads and go Scot free, ko jor

ivandragon:
Let the impunity continue.

Let those who support impunity continue to do so.

But one day, no matter how long it takes, the tables will turn.

The apc has brought governance at the centre to its lowest ebb in Nigeria’s post colonial history. Never has the country had it this bad in all ramifications - from a worsening economic situation for the masses to blatant impunity and disregard for due process.

Yes o, Just imagine 4 house of assembly members out of a possible 31 passed a state budget, which kind impunity be that?

Yes indeed, the tables have turned.

budaatum:
Apart from them having to be present to form a quorum, a yea-nay vote, which is not counted as shown in the video above, would not show two-thirds.

Every parliamentary house have a private group chat where they communicate with each other. Pass important message

Such voice notes can be passed through that channel

helinues:
What's the meaning of Agbero bla bla. How does that relate to the topic?

You want to be derailing threads and go Scot free, ko jor

ok so that what gets you angry right.oya sorry.you know you always support agbero chairman wether he got it right or wrong.you have never criticised his leadership even when he is sending the whole nation to 1860 after what buhari did .so I always know it can only be an agbero ,a thug and a tout that will always support like that .

helinues:
Every parliamentary house have a private group chat where they communicate with each other. Pass important message

Such voice notes can be passed through that channel

Trying to sound intelligent meanwhile you are dumb as fk.

Voice votes are different from voice note votes.
Please what is the extreme health emergency that necessitated a voice note votes from Antarctica or Mars

SpiritMoney:
Trying to sound intelligent meanwhile you are dumb as fk.

Voice votes are different from voice note votes.
Please what is the extreme health emergency that necessitated a voice note votes from Antarctica or Mars

So that's all you could grab from the conversation.

See the way pettiness is doing you shaka shaka.. Shame oo

favor914:
Yes o, Just imagine 4 house of assembly members out of a possible 31 passed a state budget, which kind impunity be that?

Yes indeed, the tables have turned.

Which is why the supreme court ruled that the budget should be re-represented and the governor made efforts to do so.

One impunity does not justify another.