The Senate has acknowledged receiving President Bola Tinubu’s letter on the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara but has postponed discussions on the matter until 3 p.m.
Although the issue was listed as the first item on Wednesday’s order paper, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved to delay the debate, citing Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended). His motion was seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro, leading the Senate to proceed with other scheduled discussions instead.
Following this decision, the lawmakers turned their attention to the confirmation of nominees for appointment to the Police Service Commission (PSC).
Presenting his report, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Abdulhamid Mallam-Madori, said, “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Police Affairs on the confirmation of the nominations of the following persons for appointment as members of the Police Service Commission (PSC).”
Before the plenary session officially began, proceedings were delayed. While Senate rules stipulate an 11 a.m. start time, the session did not commence until 12:41 p.m., when Senate President Godswill Akpabio arrived for the opening prayer.
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It then remained stalled until 1:05 p.m., when the approval of votes and proceedings finally took place.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for an initial six months.
In his national address, Tinubu justified the decision, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security concerns.
The crisis, fuelled by a power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, now-FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has disrupted governance in the oil-rich state.
To manage the state’s affairs during the emergency period, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the sole administrator.