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The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on the Nigerian Senate, citing the chamber’s alleged constitutional failure to perform its legislative duties—particularly its neglect of 146 bills passed by the House of Representatives since 2024.
In a strongly worded statement issued by the Secretary of ALDRAP, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, the association emphasised the urgent need for executive intervention under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.
“Request for His Excellency Mr. President Pursuant to Section 305 to Declaration of State of Emergency Upon the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Due to Its Failure to Perform Its Function Under Section 53 of the Nigerian Constitution as Regards 146 Concurrence of Bills Emanating from the House of Representatives since 2024,” the statement reads.
ALDRAP, a non-governmental organisation comprising over 1,000 legislative lawyers working in the National and State Assemblies, insists that the Senate’s ongoing inaction poses an imminent threat to law and order.
“Under the circumstances there is a threat of imminent break-down of law and order and it poses grave danger to the general public because the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has since the year 2024 failed in performance of its function under Section 53 of the Nigerian Constitution.”
According to ALDRAP, the root of the crisis lies in the refusal of the Senate to consider or concur on bills transmitted by the House of Representatives, a situation the group describes as “legislative paralysis.”
The association also points to the absence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio from plenary sessions as a contributing factor. Akpabio is reportedly attending ongoing court proceedings where he is both a litigant and prosecution witness.
“The declaration of a State of Emergency has become an absolute necessity considering that the current President of the Senate has now abandoned his duty of presiding over plenary sessions of the Senate to be attending court of law proceedings wherein he is both a litigant and a Prosecution Witness from now until September 2025.”
Furthermore, ALDRAP referenced a July 4, 2025 judgment from a Federal High Court in Abuja, which cited Akpabio for violating Section 63 of the Constitution and Section 14(2) of the Legislative Houses (Powers, Privileges and Immunities) Act, 2018.
“Instead of the Senators to comply with the said judgment by conducting elections to elect another Senator as President of the Senate Pro Tempore in accordance with Order 22 of the Standing Orders of the Senate, 2023 (as amended), they are running the risk of committing the crime of Contempt of a Legislative House.”
The group warns that failure to act within 48 hours will compel it to pursue legal action.
“TAKE NOTICE THAT IN THE EVENT THAT WE DO NOT RECEIVE A FAVOURABLE RESPONSE WITHIN 48 HOURS, WE SHALL UNDERTAKE LEGAL STEPS TO ASSERT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL RIGHTS.”
“We thank you in advance for your anticipated prompt and positive consideration.”
