The Senate has acknowledged receiving a communication from President Bola Tinubu regarding the six-month suspension imposed on Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. However, the Senate has deferred the discussion on the letter to 3 p.m.
Although the motion was scheduled to be the first item on today’s agenda, when the time arrived, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) invoked Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended), proposing that the next item be discussed instead. The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), leading to the Senate addressing the second item on the agenda.
The second item concerned the confirmation of nominations for appointment to the Police Service Commission (PSC). Senator Abdulhamid Mallam-Madori (APC, Jigawa East), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, presented the report, which included nominations for several individuals to join the PSC.
The Senate session, which was expected to begin at 11 a.m., did not start on time. It began instead at 12:41 p.m., just as Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio arrived, followed by a prayer session. Afterward, the session proceeded with the approval of the previous day’s votes and proceedings at 1:05 p.m.
President Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for an initial six months.
The President cited prolonged political instability, constitutional violations, and security threats as the reasons for this action. The crisis in Rivers State stems from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
As part of the emergency measures, President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until stability is restored. Ibas served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
