The Rivers State House of Assembly accused Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of spreading falsehoods and mistreating its staff after he was locked out of the legislative complex while attempting to re-present the 2025 budget, officials said Thursday. The escalating conflict has deepened political tensions in the oil-rich state.
The incident unfolded Wednesday when Fubara arrived at the Assembly’s temporary quarters on Aba Road in Port Harcourt to submit the 2025 appropriation bill. He encountered locked gates and could not enter. Fubara said he had notified Speaker Martin’s Amewhule through a formal letter and attempted a phone call, which went unanswered. He described the lockout as an obstruction to his lawful duties.
Assembly spokesperson Enemi George refuted Fubara’s account, saying no official communication reached them. George labeled the governor’s claims a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and garner sympathy. He further alleged that Assembly workers, dispatched earlier to deliver legislative resolutions to Fubara, were turned away and physically assaulted by the governor’s staff, though specifics of the alleged incident remain unclear.
The Assembly, led by Amewhule and loyal to former Gov. Nyesom Wike, said it had sent multiple written requests for Fubara to present the budget, citing a Supreme Court ruling that upheld its authority as a 27-member faction. Fubara countered that his actions complied fully with judicial directives, accusing the Assembly of overstepping its bounds.
The standoff reflects a broader power struggle between Fubara and Wike, once allies turned rivals after Wike’s tenure ended in 2023. Wike, now a prominent national figure, retains significant influence in Rivers through supporters like Amaewhule. The Assembly complex, relocated to Aba Road after a 2024 fire damaged its original site, has become a symbolic battleground in their feud.
Public reaction has been mixed. Some residents and local leaders, including former Pan Niger Delta Forum spokesperson Anabs Sara-Igbe, called the lockout an insult to Rivers’ people, arguing it undermines governance. Others see it as a procedural spat blown out of proportion by political egos.
Read More: 2025 Budget: Praises, Condemnations Trail Fubara’s Visit To Rivers Assembly Quarters
It bears mentioning that Analysts warn that the unresolved dispute, as of Thursday, March 13, 2025, could delay the 2025 budget approval, stalling infrastructure projects and administrative functions in a state already grappling with economic challenges. Neither side has signaled a willingness to back down, raising concerns about prolonged gridlock.
