Rivers State Assembly Split Deepens as Fubara Submits Budget to Four-Member Faction

• Rivers Crisis Deepens as Gov. Fubara Presents Budget to 4- Man Assembly
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Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State has officially presented the 2025 budget proposal to a faction of the state House of Assembly amid ongoing political tensions within the legislative body.

The ₦1.1 trillion appropriation bill was presented on Monday to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led faction of the House during a plenary session.

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Before the budget presentation, the four-member Assembly faction, under the leadership of Oko-Jumbo, read a letter from Governor Fubara requesting permission to formally submit the budget proposal. This marks the second time Governor Fubara has presented a state budget since assuming office.

Notably, the governor’s presentation follows a similar pattern from the previous year when he presented the 2024 appropriation bill of ₦800 billion. At that time, the bill was also submitted to a four-man House of Assembly faction, then led by Speaker Edison Ehie.

The political landscape surrounding the budget presentations underscores the deep divisions within the Rivers State House of Assembly, which have escalated over time.

The state legislature has been fractured since 27 Assembly members, including the factional Speaker Martin Amaewhule, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This mass defection followed a publicized dispute between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who remains a dominant political figure in the state.

The defections effectively split the House into rival factions, complicating legislative proceedings and governance.

In a related development last year, parts of the State House of Assembly complex were abruptly demolished, further fueling tensions.

Amid these controversies, Edison Ehie, who previously served as the Speaker of the four-member faction, resigned from the Assembly. Shortly after his resignation, Governor Fubara appointed him as Chief of Staff, a move that highlighted the governor’s influence over the factional leadership.

The current budget presentation to the Oko-Jumbo-led faction raises questions about the legislature’s unity and its capacity to function effectively. While the content of the ₦1.1 trillion budget proposal has not been disclosed in detail, its presentation to a minority faction underscores the ongoing political instability in Rivers State.

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As Governor Fubara continues his administration amidst these challenges, the state’s governance remains under scrutiny. Observers are keenly watching how the fractured Assembly will handle the budget approval process and what implications this might have for the delivery of public services and development in Rivers State.

 

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