“I’ll Be Very Surprised If Tinubu Gets Majority Votes” – Senator Dickson on Rivers Emergency Rule

Senator Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West in the National Assembly, has expressed strong doubts over the possibility of President Bola Tinubu securing the required votes to pass his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Speaking on Arise Television, the former Bayelsa governor said he would be “very surprised” if the emergency rule, as declared by the President, gains traction in the legislature.

On Tuesday, President Tinubu announced a state of emergency in Rivers, citing security concerns. In a move that has since sparked widespread criticism, the President also suspended the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu. Many Nigerians have called the action unconstitutional, referencing provisions in the Nigerian Constitution that do not support the removal of elected officials under such declarations.

The matter is now before the National Assembly, where both the Senate and the House of Representatives must approve the emergency rule by a two-thirds majority before it can take effect. The Senate adjourned debate on the matter to Thursday.

Dickson, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emphasized that the President’s action is not yet legally binding. He clarified that Tinubu has only initiated the process and that the emergency powers under Section 305 of the Constitution have not been fully activated.

He stressed that the Constitution is clear about the rules governing emergency declarations and does not provide for the removal of elected officials in such cases. According to him, the purpose of an emergency declaration should be to support, not replace, state leadership.

Describing the situation as one of the most serious constitutional developments in recent times, Dickson insisted that the Constitution requires a strict process: the President must send the proclamation to the National Assembly, it must be gazetted, and then formally presented for legislative consideration.

While acknowledging that some lawmakers may support the declaration, Dickson maintained that reaching the necessary two-thirds majority will be difficult. He underlined that the threshold applies to the total number of legislators, not just those present during the vote.

“For some of us, this is ideological,” he said. “It’s about protecting the sovereignty of the people of Rivers State and their democratic rights—not about party politics or individual actors.”