The Senate Wednesday postponed consideration and approval of the State of Emergency declared on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday to Thursday for lack of consensus among members and required 73 out of 109 Senators.
The red chamber had before its plenary , listed Proclamation of State of Emergency in Rivers State as first item on its Oder Paper.
But after several hours of delay in starting the plenary which eventually began at exactly 1:05pm , the Senate first stood down the item for consideration of others.
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who sought indulgence of other Senators for stepping down consideration of State of Emergency in Rivers State for other items, proposed 3:00pm for its consideration and possible approval which was voted for, affirmatively by Senators when put to voice votes by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
However, the Senate that fixed 3:00pm for consideration and possible approval of the State of Emergency, didn’t utter a word on the issue when it hurriedly adjourned by 2:45pm.
The leader of the Senate who moved motion for the adjourment merely requested for other items on the Order Paper to be stood down for the next legislative date, which was seconded by the minority leader, Senator Abba Moro (Benue South).
Findings made from other Senators by our reporter on why the State of Emergency was not considered for possible approval, revealed that lack of consensus among Senators on ratification of the proclamation and required 73 out of 109, to vote for such approval, made the Senate to step it down.
One of the sources, said fear of not getting required number to approve the State of Emergency, made the Senate to tactically withdrew from debating it on Wednesday.
“Efforts made by the Senate Leadership to get the required 73 Senators for approval of the presidential proclamation , proved abortive as sizeable number of senators were not happy with the proclamation aside lack of quorum in terms of 73 Senators to vote for it, ” he said.
The source however, added that through the ongoing lobby, many Senators will vote for approval of the proclamation on Thursday.