Senator Ireti Kingibe has said the approval the Senate gave President Bola Tinubu to declare emergency rule in Rivers State was not justifiable.
Kingibe (FCT — Labour Party), also condemned the use of a voice vote in approving the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio who presided over Thursday plenary relied on the voice vote to grant the approval for the emergency rule.
But kingibe said the required two-thirds majority consensus could not be accurately determined by a mere voice vote.
The opposition senators rejected the approval after Thursday’s plenary.
Earlier Seriake Dickson, had opposed the emergency rule in Rivers State, describing it as unconstitutional.
In a statement on Friday, the former Bayelsa State governor accused Senate President of blocking and preventing senators from opposition parties from contributing to the debate on the emergency rule on the floor of the Red Chamber.
The lawmaker had, during Thursday’s plenary session at the Senate, argued that the declaration fell short of constitutional requirements.
“As I have stated repeatedly, I raised my objections during the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription, based on my views as a democrat sworn to uphold the Nigerian Constitution,” Dickson stated.
