Political tensions in Rivers State have reached a boiling point as the State House of Assembly, dominated by lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, abruptly adjourned plenary indefinitely. This move comes just 24 hours after Governor Siminalayi Fubara formally requested a new date to present the 2025 budget in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling.
The Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, held a brief session on Friday at its quarters in Port Harcourt before making the unexpected decision to suspend legislative activities indefinitely. The adjournment is widely seen as a calculated attempt to frustrate Fubara’s efforts to fulfill his constitutional duty and further deepens the political crisis engulfing the state.
Governor Fubara, in a letter personally signed and dated March 13, had proposed Wednesday, March 19, 2025, or any other convenient date for the presentation of the appropriation bill. This marked the second formal request from the governor after his initial attempt to present the budget on March 12 was thwarted. On that day, security operatives at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex locked the gates as the governor’s convoy approached, citing a lack of official communication from the governor’s office—an assertion Fubara vehemently refuted.
Despite the roadblocks, Fubara has remained resolute, urging the lawmakers to prioritize the state’s interests above political affiliations. “You may recall my failed visit to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, for the presentation of the 2025 Rivers State Budget in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” the governor wrote in his latest letter to Speaker Amaewhule.
The crisis has attracted the attention of President Bola Tinubu, who recently met with leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Tinubu, acknowledging the volatile situation, reiterated the need for adherence to the Supreme Court ruling and urged PANDEF leaders to ensure Fubara executes the court’s directive without further delay.
“I have been on this matter for quite some time. We reached an agreement—a written agreement—which both parties signed. Now, the Supreme Court has spoken—that is it. Please go back home and help him (Governor Fubara) to implement those recommendations within the shortest possible time,” Tinubu reportedly told the PANDEF delegation.
The president also confirmed that he had intervened in the crisis on multiple occasions, both privately and publicly, offering advice to Fubara on how to navigate the political turmoil.
The unfolding drama in Rivers State is rooted in a fierce battle for political supremacy between Governor Fubara and his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike. The rift, which started as a quiet power tussle, exploded into a full-blown crisis when the State Assembly—loyal to Wike—attempted to impeach Fubara late last year.
Despite the intervention of the presidency and several peace moves, the hostility between the two camps has only intensified. Pro-Wike lawmakers continue to challenge Fubara’s authority, while Ijaw groups—who consider the governor as their representative—have vowed to resist any attempt to remove him from office.
With the Rivers Assembly now on an indefinite break, the fate of the 2025 budget hangs in the balance, raising concerns about governance and service delivery in the oil-rich state. Meanwhile, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), acting on Fubara’s directive, has already announced plans to conduct fresh local government elections on August 9, 2025—a move that could further escalate tensions.
As the battle for political dominance rages on, all eyes remain on Rivers State, where governance appears to be taking a back seat to power plays. The question now is: will constitutional order prevail, or will the political gladiators continue their high-stakes fight at the expense of the people?
PIONEER NEWS 