Fresh allegations of bribery have emerged following the approval of President Bola Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State, with reports that lawmakers received as much as $25,000 to secure a crucial quorum and back the controversial proclamation.
Multiple lawmakers, including seven senators and four members of the House of Representatives, confirmed to Peoples Gazette that they were offered large sums of money to support the president’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire Rivers State House of Assembly.
Lawmakers were reportedly reluctant to attend the session, making it difficult for the president’s allies to secure the required votes. A legislator, who spoke anonymously, revealed, “Members are reluctant to even show up to the parliament. Some of them, especially those from Borno, received messages from their governors that they should not support the emergency rule in Rivers.”
By Thursday morning, only 113 out of 360 members of the House of Representatives were present—falling short of the simple quorum of 120 needed for deliberation. In an effort to prevent an embarrassing failure, Tinubu’s loyalists, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, allegedly resorted to bribing lawmakers to ensure their attendance and votes.
A total of 11 lawmakers admitted to receiving bribe offers. Seven confirmed they were paid $25,000 each, while four others received $15,000. Two lawmakers said they were offered bribes but refused to accept them.
“I was approached with an offer, but I refused to accept it,” one of the lawmakers disclosed.
However, Senator Seriake Dickson, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated that he neither received nor rejected any bribe.
Lawmakers said they received offers in different locations across the capital city, Abuja, between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Reports indicate that the money was distributed discreetly, as Tinubu’s aides scrambled to gather the required votes to ratify the emergency rule before the constitutional 48-hour deadline.
One source said lawmakers started receiving cash offers around 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday when it became clear that the president’s proclamation faced stiff resistance. By Wednesday night, only 80 members of the House of Representatives were in attendance—far below the 120 needed to form even a basic quorum.
Also Read:
- Senate Approves State of Emergency in Rivers, Suspends Governor Fubara
- Senate Holds Closed-Door Meeting on Rivers State Emergency Rule
The Nigerian Constitution requires a two-thirds majority—240 House members and 73 of 109 senators—to ratify a presidential declaration of emergency. Without enough lawmakers present, Tinubu’s decision risked being overturned.
President Tinubu declared the state of emergency in Rivers on Tuesday night, citing rising political tensions between Governor Fubara and lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The crisis had reportedly crippled governance in the oil-rich state.
To manage the situation, Tinubu suspended all elected officials and installed retired naval officer Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas as the sole administrator for six months. The move sparked widespread outrage, with legal experts and ordinary Nigerians condemning it as unconstitutional.
Barrister Eze Onyekwere, a legal analyst said, “This is a dangerous precedent. The Nigerian Constitution does not give the president the power to remove an elected governor and lawmakers in an autonomous state.”
Many Nigerians also expressed concern over the potential abuse of emergency powers. “If Rivers can be placed under emergency rule today, any other state can be next,” warned activist Aisha Yusuf.
Despite public outcry, the Senate and House of Representatives eventually ratified Tinubu’s declaration. However, questions remain about the legitimacy of the decision and the alleged bribery that influenced the outcome.