Senator Ireti Kingibe, the lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has criticised the National Assembly for using a voice vote to approve President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.
In a statement on Friday, the FCT senator argued that the Nigerian Constitution mandates that a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly must ratify a state of emergency proclaimed by the President.
Kingibe said the required two-thirds majority consensus “cannot be accurately determined by a mere voice vote.”
The statement read, “As the senator representing the federal capital territory (FCT) elected on the platform of Labour Party, I, Ireti Kingibe, maintain a clear, firm and unequivocal stance on the recent declaration of emergency rule and the associated voting procedures conducted in the National Assembly.”
“I strongly oppose the use of voice voting for such critical, vital and constitutional issues. The Nigerian Constitution explicitly mandates that a state of emergency proclaimed by the President must be ratified by a two-thirds majority of all the members of each house of the national assembly.”
She maintained that the Senate standing order and house rules “mandate a roll call or electronic voting system to accurately determine numerical compliance for decisions of this magnitude.”
Kingibe argued that the National Assembly must uphold its duty of guiding the President’s decisions and ensuring the rule of law.
She said, “A two-thirds (2/3) majority is required for significant decisions like approving an emergency proclamation in the national assembly, and this level of consensus cannot be accurately determined by a voice vote.
“When a supermajority like two-thirds is needed, a recorded vote — whether through division voting, roll call, or electronic voting is necessary to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.
According to her, a voice vote is insufficient for determining a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly for an emergency proclamation.
The senator also urged Nigerians to hold their representatives accountable for the decision in Rivers State.
Vanguard
