Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi has condemned the National Assembly’s decision to approve a state of emergency proclamation through a voice vote, describing it as unconstitutional and a further blow to Nigeria’s democracy.
Obi, in a statement on X, said he was already troubled by the “ongoing deterioration of democracy” in the country, particularly the political situation in Rivers State, when he learned that lawmakers had “added salt to injury by using a voice vote to pass the illegality.”
He insisted that the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers of the National Assembly to approve such a proclamation.
“You cannot determine a two-thirds majority by a voice vote,” he stated, emphasising that proper procedures must be followed.
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Obi warned that bypassing due process in such a critical decision erodes public trust in democratic institutions.
“A voice vote for such a critical matter is not just insufficient; it’s a dangerous precedent. If we can bend the rules so easily, what stops us from undermining other pillars of democracy?” he asked.
Describing the move as a betrayal of democratic principles, he questioned the commitment of lawmakers to upholding the Constitution. “It is painful to think that members of the National Assembly, who swore to uphold the Constitution, could participate in a process that sidesteps the very essence of due process,” he said.
Obi concluded with a warning: “This is not just a flawed procedure; it is a warning signal. We cannot afford to keep gambling with the soul of our democracy.”
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