Fubara's Suspension: Three Senators Walk Out on Akpabio, Reason Emerges

• President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency did not sit well with some senators, despite the Senate voting in support of the move
• During the debate of the motion, some senators reportedly shared different views, forcing Senate President Godswill Akpabio to adopt voice-voting
• Senator Seriake Dickson from Bayelsa state confronted Akpabio during plenary, with three senators also said to have walked out in disagreement

FCT, Abuja - Senate President Godswill Akpabio reportedly clashed with some senators during a closed-door session over the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state of emergency declared in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu.

The president declared a state of emergency this week over the failure of the governor and the State House of Assembly to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the political crisis in the state and the security report on ongoing violence.

The Senate convened to debate and vote against or in support of the president's move, and some senators allegedly kicked against the move during plenary on Thursday, March 20, and this formed the basis of their clash with Senate President Akpabio.

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There were reports of heated arguments among the senators and many recording dissenting views on the state of emergency declaration. The Red Chamber also opted for a voice vote rather than a formal vote count due to an alleged lack of quorum.

According to Vanguard, three notable senators walked out of the chamber in protest against the Senate president's decision on the matter. These members have been named as Senators Seriake Dickson, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Aminu Tambuwal.

Senators Seriake Dickson walks out of Akpabio

Dickson, the senator representing Bayelsa West, was one of the first to kick against President Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers state.

The Senator, who was a two-term governor of Bayelsa, was said to have walked out of the Senate gathering during plenary when the state was mentioned.

Being a strong member of the leading opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dickson had earlier vowed to mobilise the senators against the move.

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Enyinnaya Abaribe against state of emergency in Rivers

Enyinnaya Abaribe from the All Progressives Grand Alliance also reportedly walked out of the plenary on Thursday to protest the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.

The Abia South representative is a high-ranking Nigerian senator who has served as deputy governor of the state and currently serving as the minority leader in the Senate.

Aminu Tambuwal walks out of Senate plenary

Another PDP senator representing Sokoto South also protested against the state of emergency declaration by walking out on Thursday.

Tambuwal, who left the plenary in outrage, is the immediate past governor of Sokoto and a former speaker of the House of Representatives.

PDP governors reject Tinubu's declaration

Legit.ng earlier reported that the 12 PDP governors condemned the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by President Bola Tinubu.

The entire legislature was suspended over their failure to implement the Supreme Court judgment on the state crisis and security report.

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Kwankwaso knocks NASS over Tinubu's state of emergency declaration in Rivers

The PDP governors described Tinubu's broadcast as a threat to the opposition in Nigeria, decrying his silence on Nyesom Wike's role.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng