Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate Spokesman and representative of Ekiti South Senatorial District, has confirmed that 74 lawmakers out of 109 in the Nigerian Senate voted in favor of declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State. He made this known during a media briefing over the weekend at his hometown, Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti State.
According to Adaramodu, 106 senators were present during the session, and all 74 who voted supported the motion for the emergency rule. He emphasized that there was no opposition to the motion during the closed-door deliberation, stating, “When the question was put to those in support of the emergency rule in Rivers State, all of them said yes, and nobody said nay after they had discussed the matter.”
The senator criticized the tendency of Nigerians to interpret the country’s constitution and legislative rules based on personal opinions, noting that the rules are often misunderstood or deliberately misrepresented. “It is very unfortunate that everybody in Nigeria wants to interpret the rules and the constitution of Nigeria the way they like,” he said. “Over 200 million Nigerians interpret the constitution as if each is a lawmaker, a lawyer, or a judge.”
He also addressed concerns that the legislative process was manipulated, insisting that the Senate followed due process. He explained that issues related to national security are constitutionally required to be discussed in a closed session, and that is exactly what was done. “We did not bend the rules; we did what we needed to do,” he stated.
Senator Adaramodu revealed that, following the debate, additional recommendations were made to the initial proposal submitted by the Presidency. He noted that although the emergency rule might not last the full six months, its implementation would be monitored and adjusted based on the prevailing situation in Rivers State.
As part of the resolution, an administrator will be appointed to oversee governance in the state, reporting both to the Presidency and the National Assembly. A committee of eminent Nigerians will also be established to mediate between conflicting factions and foster peace in the state.
He blamed the governance crisis in Rivers State on the breakdown of relations between the Governor and the majority of the 32-member House of Assembly. According to him, governance had become impossible due to the legislature being split, with only three lawmakers remaining loyal to the Governor.
Dismissing allegations that the National Assembly is a rubber stamp for the executive, Adaramodu stressed that the legislature remains a vital and independent arm of government. “We are not in the Senate with gloves on our hands to be fighting the executive. Our role is to make laws, not to execute or interpret them,” he said.
He concluded by highlighting the Senate’s achievements, including the passage of the appropriation bill, establishment of new higher institutions, and the Joint Tax Bill, all of which he described as efforts to strengthen governance and national development.
