As the third leg of the emergency rule placed on some states in the North east expires November 20, there are speculations about what next step President Goodluck Jonathan would take in addressing the issue of security in the region, which seems to be deteriorating.

In May this year, the National Assembly had approved the extension of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, owing to calls especially from the governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, for more military presence in the geopolitical zone.

The third segment of the emergency rule will end on Thursday and there are speculation that the Jonathan government might impose a total emergency on the three affected states, considering the worsening security situation in the region.

It was gathered that pressures are mounting on the president to declare a total emergency in the three states and appoint military administrators.

This may, however, be resisted as the governors of the affected states have come out to say that the emergency rule has failed to address the Boko Haram insurgency.

With the 2015 general elections fast approaching, it will be difficult to conduct polls under emergency situation unless all the stakeholders reach a consensus.

Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution empowers the president to impose a state of emergency with the consent of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Section 305(4) also mandates the governor of a state to ask the president to proclaim emergency rule in his or her state if the need arises.

President Jonathan has until Thursday to make up his mind on the fate of the three affected states.