Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the Labour Party, has publicly denounced the voting procedure used to approve the recent declaration of emergency rule in Nigeria, saying it violated the constitution.
In a strongly worded statement released on Friday, Kingibe criticised the National Assembly’s use of voice voting for what she described as “critical, vital, and constitutional issues.” She argued that such an approach fails to meet constitutional requirements.
“I strongly oppose the use of voice voting for such critical issues,” Kingibe stated. “The Nigerian Constitution explicitly mandates that a state of emergency proclaimed by the President must be ratified by a ‘two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly.'”
The senator cited Section 305(2) & (6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which requires emergency proclamations to receive approval from at least two-thirds of members in both the Senate and House of Representatives. According to Kingibe, a voice vote—where members simply say “Aye” or “Nay”—cannot accurately measure whether this threshold has been met.
“When a supermajority like two-thirds is needed, a recorded vote—whether through division voting, roll call, or electronic voting—is necessary to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements,” her statement read.
Kingibe called on the National Assembly to fulfil its constitutional role as “custodians of the laws of the land” and to provide proper oversight of presidential decisions.
“National Assembly members are the direct representatives of the people,” she emphasised. “Without a roll call or electronic voting, the people haven’t spoken and therefore cannot take responsibility for the President’s decision.”
The senator concluded her statement with a call for accountability, urging citizens to “hold their representatives accountable” for their actions regarding the emergency declaration.
The controversial emergency rule declaration and its approval process have sparked significant debate about constitutional procedures and legislative oversight in Nigeria’s democratic system.
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