The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised serious concerns over the National Assembly’s use of a voice vote to approve President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.
In a statement released via his verified X account on Thursday, Obi described the move as unconstitutional and a further erosion of democratic principles.
He noted that not only is the emergency declaration itself questionable, but the manner in which it was approved—through a voice vote—falls short of constitutional and legislative standards.
“While still agonizing over the ongoing deterioration of democracy in our nation, especially with the situation in Rivers State… they have added salt to injury by using a voice vote to pass the illegality,” Obi stated.
He emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution requires a two-thirds majority of both chambers of the National Assembly for such a proclamation to be validated—a process he argued cannot be properly determined by a mere call of “Aye” or “Nay.”
“You cannot determine a two-thirds majority by a voice vote,” Obi said, adding that decisions of such magnitude should follow due process, including a recorded or electronic vote for transparency and accountability.
The former Anambra State Governor expressed concern that the voice vote method undermines public trust in democratic institutions, warning that it could set a dangerous precedent for future legislative decisions.
“If we can bend the rules so easily, what stops us from undermining other pillars of democracy?” he questioned.
Obi concluded his statement with a call for lawmakers to uphold the Constitution and ensure that democratic processes are not compromised for political expediency.