ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Temper flared in the Senate on Thursday as Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West) publicly accused President Bola Tinubu of imposing “emergency rule by stealth” in Rivers State through a series of fresh appointments to key state commissions — a move he described as unconstitutional and undemocratic.
President Tinubu had earlier sent formal requests to the Senate seeking confirmation of nominees for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Local Government Service Commission, and Civil Service Commission. The letters were read aloud by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary.
However, immediately following the reading, Senator Dickson rose on a point of order to challenge the move, arguing that the appointments bypassed due process and encroached on state autonomy. Akpabio, however, ignored Dickson’s intervention and swiftly called for a motion to move senators to the House of Representatives for a joint session with President Tinubu.
Following the joint session — in which Tinubu delivered a Democracy Day address — a visibly irate Dickson stormed the Senate press centre to air his grievances.
“Earlier today, while we were in the Senate chambers, you all witnessed the President’s communication regarding appointments in Rivers State being read. I raised a constitutional point of order, which I’m entitled to as a Senator. But the Senate President ignored it, suppressed it, and rushed on,” Dickson said.
He described the handling of the issue as a “blatant suppression” of his rights and an affront to the democratic process. “Every Senator, regardless of party, has the constitutional right to be heard. That right was denied today,” he added.
Dickson condemned the timing of the appointments, calling it “troubling” that the President would take such steps on Democracy Day — a date commemorating Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999.
“Why choose today to validate actions that are clearly undemocratic and illegal?” he questioned. “You cannot claim to be a democrat while trampling on democratic principles. The silence on Rivers State in the President’s address was deafening.”
While he acknowledged the symbolic significance of Tinubu’s speech honoring pro-democracy heroes, Dickson emphasized that democracy must be upheld by actions, not words. “This was a golden opportunity to restore constitutional rule in Rivers State — and it was missed.”
Despite the uproar, the Senate President directed the Presidential requests to an ad-hoc committee on Rivers State for further consideration and possible approval.
The situation underscores deepening tensions over the federal government’s role in state affairs and raises fresh questions about the balance of power and respect for democratic norms in Nigeria.
