Political Bombshell: Enang Dismisses National Assembly’s Role In Rivers Emergency Rule

Former presidential aide and ex-federal lawmaker, Senator Ita Enang, has clarified that the National Assembly has no role in ending the state of emergency in Rivers State unless President Bola Tinubu seeks an extension.

Speaking in a telephone interview with The Guardian, Enang explained that the legislature had already fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by approving the emergency proclamation for six months, as declared by the President in March.

“The National Assembly has played its role by approving the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State for six months. Once that period lapses, the state of emergency ends automatically. There are no legislative procedures required to terminate it. The intervention of the National Assembly would only be necessary if an extension is sought,” he stated.

Enang, who represented Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District from 2011 to 2015, emphasized that the expiration of the proclamation remains unaffected by whether lawmakers are in session or on recess.

The former lawmaker, who also served as Senior Special Assistant to former President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters and Niger Delta Affairs, added:

“Whether the legislature is on recess or not does not affect the automatic termination of the proclamation.”