Senator Victor Umeh, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has categorically denied accusations that he accepted financial compensation to back the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State. The claims, which surfaced following the Senate’s approval of the emergency measure, have been firmly rejected by Umeh, who emphasized that he was not involved in any financial transactions related to the matter.
In a statement issued to the public, Umeh clarified that he did not participate in any meeting where payments were allegedly made to 42 senators, nor did he receive any funds in exchange for supporting the emergency declaration. He reiterated that he was not present during the meeting in question, distancing himself from the rumors.
“I did not receive any money to support the approval of the state of emergency in Rivers State,” Umeh said, underscoring that such accusations are completely false. “I was not at any meeting where such payments were made.”
The senator further detailed his activities on the evening before the Senate’s vote, revealing that he attended an Iftar gathering at the Senate Guest House. There, he joined Muslim colleagues in breaking their fast and was asked to offer the Christian prayer after Senator Adamu Aliero led the Muslim prayer. During the prayer, Umeh expressed his hopes for peace and reconciliation in Nigeria, specifically within Rivers State.
“I prayed for peace across the nation and for unity among the divided factions in Rivers State,” Umeh stated. “I prayed for love and understanding to prevail for the good of our country.”
Umeh made it clear that the state of emergency issue was not discussed during the Iftar event, and several Labour Party senators were present, further validating his position.
Refuting the allegations as baseless, Umeh condemned what he described as a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing his reputation. He assured his constituents that these reports would not distract him from his commitment to representing them effectively. The senator suggested that the aim of the false accusations was to sow division between him and his supporters.
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The controversy also comes amidst separate claims that senators were offered $25,000 to endorse the state of emergency. This has raised concerns over the constitutionality of the approval process, especially given the use of voice voting, which has been criticized for lacking transparency in determining the majority in such significant matters.
During the vote, one lawmaker requested that a counted vote be conducted to ensure greater transparency, but his request was rejected by Speaker Abah. Several prominent senators, including Abaribe, Tambuwal, and Saraki-Dickson, walked out in protest, further highlighting the divisiveness surrounding the vote.
