Lawmaker Defends Voice Vote On State Of Emergency In Rivers State

Lawmaker Stands by Voice Vote Amid Criticism

Let me tell you something. In the world of politics, decisions don’t always go down smoothly. Take the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. The House of Representatives approved this declaration using a voice vote, and that’s where the controversy kicks in. Dawodu Bashiru, a respected lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo in Lagos State, has stepped up to defend the decision.

Now, here’s the deal. A voice vote means that members of the House simply shout “aye” or “nay” instead of using electronic voting systems. Critics are raising eyebrows, questioning whether this method is transparent enough for such a significant decision. But Dawodu isn’t backing down. He’s arguing that the House has the constitutional authority to decide how it operates, including how it conducts its votes.

Why Voice Votes Are Perfectly Legal

On Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Dawodu made his case loud and clear. He explained that the House is well within its rights to choose the format of voting for each matter. According to him, this isn’t just a preference—it’s the law. He emphasized, “The point that I’m making is that it’s also constitutional that the House is going to determine the way it operates on an everyday basis, that is the law.”

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Now, it’s true that the House has used electronic voting on some occasions. Dawodu acknowledges that, but he’s quick to point out that lawmakers aren’t obligated to use it all the time. Different situations call for different rules, and that’s exactly what’s happening here. He gave an example to clarify his point: “When you look at the last time, we also had electronic voting when we were going to elect the speaker [Femi Gbajabiamila]. It’s different from what happened this time when we’re going to elect the speaker [Tajudeen Abbas]. So the rules are different.”

Voice Voting: A Routine Practice

Dawodu went further to explain that voice voting isn’t some strange, out-of-the-blue method. It’s actually a common practice in the House, and this instance isn’t out of the ordinary. He added, “I think every day in our practice, we do voice voting. I don’t think this particular situation is different.”

What Dawodu is saying is that voice voting has always been part of the House’s daily routine. There’s nothing unusual or suspicious about it. The rules vary depending on the situation, and in this case, a voice vote was perfectly appropriate.

In conclusion, Dawodu is standing firm. He believes that the House acted constitutionally and transparently. Whether or not the public agrees, the fact remains that the House followed its rules and procedures. And that’s a crucial part of how democracy works, even when it doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.