Nigerian lawmakers allegedly accepted bribes to support President Tinubu’s proclamation in Rivers State. Eleven legislators confirmed receiving offers up to $25,000 amidst a lack of quorum in the National Assembly. The situation has spurred controversy and condemnation from the public and legal experts regarding its constitutionality.
Recent reports indicate significant bribery among Nigerian lawmakers as they faced pressure to support President Bola Tinubu’s emergency proclamation in Rivers State. Sources revealed that eleven legislators, comprising seven senators and four representatives, received offers of up to $25,000 to assist in invoking Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, enabling the dismantling of existing democratic frameworks in Rivers.
During a House plenary session on Thursday morning, attendance was alarmingly low, with only 113 members present out of 360—the requirement being a mere quorum of 120. This situation prompted Tinubu’s allies, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to consider immediate cash inducements to ensure lawmakers would participate in voting.
Out of 14 interviewed members, eleven acknowledged receiving bribe offers. Seven confirmed that they accepted $25,000, while four reported receiving offers of $15,000. Additionally, two lawmakers mentioned that they were aware of the offers but chose to decline. Opposition member Senator Seriake Dickson was the only one interviewed who reported receiving no offers.
Lawmakers noted that the bribes began circulating around 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, as the urgency to secure votes intensified to ratify the emergency declaration by the following Thursday afternoon. Tinubu announced this emergency citing rising political strife between Governor Simi Fubara and lawmakers aligned with Nyesom Wike, appointing retired naval chief Ibok-Etuk Ekwe Ibas to govern Rivers State for six months.
Amidst widespread backlash from legal experts and citizens, who labeled the situation unconstitutional and damaging to national integrity, the Constitution states that for the proclamation to be legitimized, two-thirds of the House, or 240 members, and 73 of 109 senators, are required to support it. The first voting opportunity revealed that only 80 representatives participated, falling drastically short of the minimum needed to proceed.
The reported bribery scandal highlights the desperation among Nigerian lawmakers to support the controversial emergency proclamation by President Bola Tinubu. With only minimal attendance registered in parliamentary sessions and significant public condemnation of the president’s actions, the depth of political discord in the country is evident. As the situation evolves, the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic processes remains in question.
Original Source: gazettengr.com
