By Ekunkonye Junior
Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu, the National President of Society for Advancement of Democracy in Nigeria (SADN), has sounded the alarm over the National Assembly’s approval of the state of emergency in Rivers State, citing disregard for the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu expressed concerns that the National Assembly’s voice vote showed that they all approved the state of emergency.
The National President pointed to Section 305 of the constitution, which requires a 2/3 majority vote from both chambers for a state of emergency to be approved. He questioned the legitimacy of the approval process, suggesting that the National Assembly may be withholding information from the public.
Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu warned that granting the president unchecked power to remove elected officials is a dangerous precedent, potentially paving the way for the removal of senators. While acknowledging that insecurity may justify the removal of the governor and other elected officials in Rivers State, he emphasized the need for constitutional adherence.
Still faulting the entire process of approving the state of emergency, he said that: The National Assembly’s approval of the state of emergency in Rivers State may have violated Section 305 of the constitution; The voice vote on the matter lacked audible dissenting voices, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the approval process and; Granting the president unchecked power to remove elected officials could have far-reaching implications for the country’s democratic institutions.
As the situation in Rivers State continues to unfold, the National President concerns highlight the need for careful consideration and adherence to constitutional principles.
