The political landscape in Rivers State has been thrust into uncertainty following the decision of the State House of Assembly to adjourn its sittings indefinitely. This development emerges amidst a protracted rift between the legislative body and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, primarily centered around the presentation and approval of the 2025 appropriation bill.
On Friday, March 14, 2025, the Assembly, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Amaewhule, convened in Port Harcourt and resolved to suspend legislative activities for an unspecified duration. This resolution came mere hours after Governor Fubara had formally communicated his intention to re-present the 2025 budget for the Assembly's consideration and approval. In his correspondence, the governor recounted his previous unsuccessful attempt on March 12 to submit the budget, during which he and his entourage were reportedly denied entry into the Assembly premises, with the gates securely locked.
The governor's initiative to re-present the budget aligns with a recent Supreme Court judgment addressing the political impasse in the state. Governor Fubara underscored his commitment to governance and urged all governmental arms to operate within legal and constitutional frameworks for the collective benefit of Rivers State.
The standoff between the executive and legislative branches has its roots in a power struggle over the control of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) structures within the state. Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, currently serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been at odds regarding party leadership, leading to a factionalization within the state's political landscape. This discord culminated in 27 members of the State House of Assembly, aligned with Wike, defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby intensifying the political crisis.
The Supreme Court's recent judgment further complicated matters by invalidating the previous budget presentation made by Governor Fubara to a splinter faction of the Assembly. The court deemed this action unconstitutional and ordered the suspension of Rivers State's statutory allocation, thereby exerting financial pressure on the state government. In response, Governor Fubara extended an olive branch by inviting the Amaewhule-led Assembly for dialogue, an overture that has thus far been rebuffed.
The indefinite adjournment of the Assembly's sittings exacerbates the governance paralysis in Rivers State, leaving critical legislative functions, including budgetary approvals and policy enactments, in abeyance. This impasse poses significant challenges to the state's administrative efficacy and underscores the urgent need for reconciliation and collaborative governance to address the pressing needs of Rivers State's populace.