Buhari: Reps Won’t Invoke Doctrine Of Necessity

By Ogbolu George

The Federal House of Representatives on Wednesday, said it would not invoke the ‘doctrine of necessity’ on President Muhammadu Buhari, who is on a medical vacation in London.

President Buhari, who handed over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has been away from the country since January 23.

He was expected back to the country on Feb. 6, but wrote to the Senate on Feb.5, notifying them of his need for more time to get results of some tests from his doctors.

Too early to talk about doctrine of necessity

Hon. Abdulrazaq Namdas, the spokesman for the House of Representative, said, ”We have not got to the stage of invoking any doctrine of necessity. The president left the country about one month ago. Besides, he has handed power to the vice president to act. Again, the constitution is silent about when he should return in such situation.

”So, we’re not thinking about any doctrine of necessity yet. The only time we may talk about any such thing is when it is taking too much time, which no one can even say,” he said

On February 9, 2010, The National Assembly had invoked the ‘doctrine of necessity’ to authorise then vice president, Goodluck Jonathan to act as president following the illness of late President Umaru Yar’Adua.