Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was barred from accessing the State House of Assembly complex on Wednesday, preventing him from presenting the 2025 budget. The gate to the complex was locked, despite his claims that he had formally notified Speaker Martins Amaewhule and attempted to reach him by phone since Tuesday.
The standoff comes amid ongoing political tensions in the state. Fubara had previously pledged to implement the Supreme Court’s recent judgment, which includes formally presenting the 2024 budget. That budget was initially passed in December 2023 by a four-member faction of the Assembly, a move that has been contested.
Last week, the Assembly issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the governor to present the 2025 budget. However, Fubara responded that he was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court ruling before proceeding. In an effort to ease tensions, he invited lawmakers on Sunday for discussions on the court’s verdict, covering key issues such as budget presentation and the payment of outstanding salaries to legislators.
The refusal to grant Fubara access to the Assembly complex has further heightened the power struggle between the executive and legislative arms in the state. Security personnel at the scene cited a lack of official communication as the reason for the governor’s inability to enter, underscoring the deepening crisis in Rivers State’s political landscape.
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