The Assembly Fubara Will Present 2025 Budget To Revealed

Oko-Jumbo announced the Governor’s request to present the budget at today’s plenary session.

This will be Governor Fubara’s second budget presentation since taking office in May 2023, with both presentations occurring amidst ongoing legislative disputes.

In his first budget presentation last year, Fubara addressed a divided Assembly, led by Edison Ehie, who had been recognized as Speaker by a State High Court.

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This Assembly was formed after 27 lawmakers, including then-Speaker Martin Amaewhule, defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection led to legal battles and political interventions, with even President Bola Tinubu getting involved.

Eventually, Ehie resigned from the Assembly and was appointed Chief of Staff to the Government House. The crisis deepened as the three remaining members—Oko-Jumbo (Bonny Constituency), Adolphus Timothy (Opobo/Nkoro Constituency), and Sokari Goodboy (Ahoada West)—maintained the Assembly’s legitimacy, citing Section 109 of the 1999 Constitution, which they argued provided for the automatic forfeiture of seats in the event of defection.

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These three lawmakers have continued to lead the Assembly, often working in alignment with Governor Fubara’s administration.

Meanwhile, the 27 defected members reversed their decisions and returned to the PDP, reconvening under Amaewhule’s leadership and frequently opposing the government’s policies.

In a further twist to the ongoing political crisis, both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal nullified the Rivers State 2024 Appropriation Bill, preventing its implementation.

A Federal High Court ruling also temporarily halted the disbursement of federal allocations to the state, although this was overturned by the Appeal Court.

Despite judicial pronouncements affirming Amaewhule’s leadership, the Oko-Jumbo-led House insists that there has been no definitive ruling on the status of the 27 defected lawmakers.