Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the National Assembly for approving the State of Emergency in Rivers State through a voice vote. In a statement on Thursday, Obi accused lawmakers of undermining due process and worsening the nation’s democratic decline.
Obi argued that the Constitution explicitly requires a roll-call vote, where each member declares ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ rather than a voice vote that lacks transparency. He insisted that a two-thirds majority cannot be determined through such a method, warning that this disregard for constitutional standards erodes public trust in governance.
Expressing disappointment, Obi stressed that decisions of such national significance must follow due process. He criticized the lawmakers for handling a matter that could reshape the country’s political landscape with what he described as a casual disregard for legal and democratic principles.