Abuja senator rejects voice vote for emergency rule in Rivers

The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party, said she rejected the National Assembly’s use of a voice vote to approve the recent emergency rule in Rivers State, declaring it unconstitutional and unacceptable.

Kingibe argued that such a critical national decision requires a recorded vote, not the subjective “Aye” or “Nay” method, insisting that Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (Section 305) mandates a two-thirds majority for ratification.

The Senate on Thursday, while debating the State of Emergency declaration for ratification, opted for an executive session, which robbed Nigerians of the opportunity to watch a live debate on the issue.

Without a proper roll call or electronic voting, she asserted that there is no verifiable proof that the required supermajority was met.

“A voice vote cannot determine a two-thirds majority. Without a recorded vote, the people have not spoken!” she declared.

The Senator criticised what she called a dangerous precedent, warning that bypassing due process weakens democratic structures.

She reminded her colleagues that their primary role is to scrutinise and guide the President’s decisions, not rubber-stamp them.
Kingibe called on citizens to demand accountability, emphasizing that lawmakers must be transparent in representing their constituents’ interests.