Nigerian lawmakers approved President Bola Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers using voice votes, despite the Constitution’s requirement for a two-thirds majority. Critics argue this method lacks transparency and accountability, as it does not accurately record individual lawmakers’ positions, which is essential for meeting constitutional mandates.
Nigerian lawmakers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives utilized voice votes to approve President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers. This action raises questions since the Nigerian Constitution explicitly requires a two-thirds majority vote by each chamber for such approvals, as stipulated in Section 305 (6b). Consequently, a minimum of 73 senators out of 109 and at least 240 representatives out of 360 are needed to affirm the emergency declaration.
Instead of an official roll-call vote that would document each lawmaker’s position, lawmakers resorted to voice votes, where members express their approval or disapproval verbally. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, led the voice voting after a closed-door meeting of over an hour. Observers noted the absence of open debate, and no dissenting voices were recorded when the Senator presented the resolution.
The House of Representatives mirrored this process, conducting a voice vote without tallying individual votes. This method of voting has drawn criticism; many citizens, including banker Atedo Peterside, highlighted that a voice vote falls short of fulfilling the constitutional requirement for a two-thirds majority.
Dele Farotimi, a notable activist, echoed similar sentiments, urging that the voting should be explicitly counted in order to comply with constitutional demands. He stressed that lawmakers, including Senator Akpabio, must not default to a voice vote when a recorded majority is necessary.
The use of voice votes by Nigerian lawmakers to approve a State of Emergency in Rivers has sparked significant debate regarding compliance with constitutional voting requirements. Critics argue that this approach does not provide transparency or fulfill the two-thirds majority necessary. The situation underscores a need for greater accountability and adherence to established legislative procedures in Nigeria.
Original Source: www.premiumtimesng.com
