President Bola Tinubu is facing difficulties in securing a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to approve his declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State. On Tuesday, he suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all House of Assembly members for six months, appointing retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as administrator. However, the Constitution does not explicitly grant the President the power to suspend an elected governor or appoint an administrator, raising legal concerns.

To validate the proclamation, Tinubu needs at least 240 votes in the House of Representatives and 73 in the Senate. On the other hand, just 36 senators or 121 reps can block it. Many lawmakers remain unconvinced about the necessity and legality of the move, and securing votes has been difficult, leading to a Senate postponement of the motion to Thursday.

Another challenge is the absence of many lawmakers, with several in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj and Ramadan. The Constitution requires all 469 members to vote, ruling out absentee or virtual voting. Some APC lawmakers admitted the process was poorly coordinated, making approval uncertain. If Tinubu fails to secure the required votes by Thursday, the emergency rule will be revoked, restoring Fubara’s administration.