In a striking display of dissent, Nigerian Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, staged a walkout from the Senate plenary on March 20, 2025, during a vote on President Bola Tinubu’s controversial state of emergency declaration in Rivers State. The declaration, announced on March 18, has plunged Nigeria’s oil-rich region into further political turmoil, suspending the state’s elected governor, deputy governor, and lawmakers for six months amid escalating unrest and pipeline vandalism. Dickson’s bold action, coupled with his vocal opposition to the measure, has reignited debates about constitutional governance, democratic principles, and the Senate’s handling of national crises.
The state of emergency in Rivers State, a key oil-producing region in the Niger Delta, was met with widespread criticism from opposition groups, legal experts, and some lawmakers. President Tinubu justified the move in a televised address, citing security reports of pipeline vandalism by militants and a perceived failure by the state government to address the crisis. However, critics, including Dickson, argue that the declaration violates Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, particularly by suspending elected officials without due process.
During the Senate’s closed-door session on March 20, Dickson led a robust opposition to the proclamation, emphasizing its unconstitutionality and its threat to democratic norms. Despite his efforts, the Senate proceeded with a voice vote, approving the emergency declaration with majority support. Unwilling to lend his presence to what he described as an unconstitutional decision, Dickson, alongside Senators Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Enyinnaya Abaribe, exited the chamber before Senate President Godswill Akpabio could report the outcome.
In a detailed thread on X (formerly Twitter) on March 21, Dickson elaborated on his objections, his walkout, and the broader implications for Nigerian democracy. His statement, reproduced in full below, offers a window into the intensity of the Senate debate and his commitment to constitutional principles:
Full Statement by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson
Yesterday, at the sitting of the Senate, the issue of the President’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State came up for discussion and as I have stated repeatedly, I raised my objections in the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription, based on my views as a Democrat, sworn to uphold the Nigerian constitution.
The Senate did not undertake the debate in an open session however, it was quite robust. I want to thank Sen. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his strong support of the unconstitutionality of the declaration, especially the aspect that deals with the suspension of the elected officials of the Rivers State government.
At the end of the day, majority of the senators supported the proclamation as no room was given for an open debate at plenary.
I left the plenary before the Senate President was directed to report the outcome because I didn’t want to be present while what I opposed is being reported. I believe Senator Tambuwal, Senator Abaribe and others also left.
I want to make it clear that as I stated repeatedly, I spoke and voted against the proclamation in our closed session, supported by Senator Aminu Tambuwal and a few other senators who were not recognized to speak.
And so I want to thank all the senators who shared the view that I vigorously canvassed.
I am however aware of the efforts made to modify the declaration as a result of the concerns and views we have expressed and canvassed the past few days.
Though I acknowledge the effort being made by the leadership and President to moderate the terms of the declaration and to create a mechanism for oversight, theoretically this does not counter the primary issue of constitutionality.
The beauty of democracy is such that the minority will have their say while the majority their way. I would have wished for a more robust and open debate so that all views and opinions can be openly canvassed as I requested even at the closed session specifically and thereafter, the majority can have their way but as it is, both chambers have decided and the ball is now on the court of the other arms of government, especially the judiciary, in the event of any challenge.
My attention has also been drawn to a viral video showing parts of the unfortunate exchanges between the Senate President and I before we devolved to the closed session.
As I said on the floor, the Senate President was very unfair to me by trying to censor my freedom of expression and by deliberately misrepresenting the import of what I said in the broadcast on Wednesday which was the same thing I said on the floor yesterday.
It is my opposition in principle to the declaration of a state of emergency, as well as the suspension of elected officials.
I thank all those who have called to commend my composure under unnecessary and unexpected attempt at intimidation.
Everyone, including the Senate President, knows I have long gone beyond that stage in my life.
The Senate as I said is a meeting of equals and everyone should be respected just as we accord respect to the Chair.
No senator needs the permission of the senate president to express an opinion in an interview on a topical matter of national interest that is in the public domain.
I intend to meet the Senate President to formally express my displeasure, to prevent a reoccurrence.
I thank my constituents, Nigerians and all people of goodwill who have called to express solidarity and urge them not to be dismayed at the direction our democracy appears to have taken.
For someone like me who has been in trenches over the years, all these challenges are actually a call to duty and I therefore implore all people of goodwill to come together and ensure that participatory democracy is promoted in our country.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Rivers State.
HSD
Dickson’s walkout and subsequent statement have drawn both praise and scrutiny. Supporters laud his principled stance and commitment to constitutionalism, while critics argue that his departure could weaken the opposition’s ability to influence legislative outcomes. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have echoed Dickson’s concerns, labeling the emergency declaration as “unconstitutional” and an attempt at “state capture.”
The Senate, meanwhile, has moved forward with plans to establish a joint ad-hoc committee to oversee Rivers State’s administration during the emergency period and a committee of eminent Nigerians to mediate the political crisis. However, Dickson remains skeptical, asserting that any modifications to the declaration cannot resolve its fundamental legal flaws.
As the controversy unfolds, Dickson has called on the judiciary to intervene, suggesting that legal challenges may soon test the constitutionality of Tinubu’s actions. For now, his walkout stands as a symbolic act of resistance, highlighting the tensions between federal authority and state autonomy in Nigeria’s fragile democratic landscape. The people of Rivers State, caught in the crossfire of political rivalry and security challenges, await clarity on their governance and future.
Premier League