The Tony Okocha-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has once again raised allegations against Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration, accusing it of spending state funds without proper legislative approval.
Okocha criticized the governor for failing to re-submit the 2024 appropriation bill to the Rivers State House of Assembly, which is led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule.
Okocha claims that this failure suggests the governor is acting outside the law, engaging in unauthorized spending of state resources.
This controversy is part of a larger political dispute concerning the re-presentation of the 2024 appropriation bill.
The bill’s submission to the Amaewhule-led assembly was one of the key points in an eight-point peace agreement signed by Governor Fubara, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and other stakeholders from different political factions.
Read Also:
NBA Chairmen in Rivers State Demand Apology From Okocha to Justice Aprioku
Governor Fubara’s Anti-Corruption Drive Transforming Rivers State – Chief Hart
The debate over the legitimacy of the Amaewhule-led assembly has deepened divisions, with some political analysts arguing that the assembly is illegitimate, while others contend that its members are the duly elected lawmakers. The matter remains unresolved in court.
Okocha, who also serves as the Rivers State Representative at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), asserted his right to speak on behalf of the APC in the state. He dismissed any challenges to his position, stating, “No one can contest it.”
This statement follows a previous public disagreement with Tonye Cole, the 2023 APC gubernatorial candidate in Rivers State. Cole, in a televised interview, claimed that Okocha no longer had the authority to represent the party following his removal by a High Court ruling in Port Harcourt, which reinstated the Emeka Bekee-led APC executives. Cole also suggested that Okocha had aligned himself with Wike’s political camp.
However, Okocha rejected Cole’s debates, arguing that his faction is the only one officially recognized by the national APC leadership. He further emphasized his longstanding loyalty to the party, stating that he has been a member since its founding in 2014 and has never defected.
