Political Showdown in Rivers: Governor Fubara Locked Out of Assembly Quarters
The political crisis in Rivers State took another dramatic turn on Wednesday as Governor Siminalayi Fubara was denied access to the state assembly quarters while attempting to present the 2025 budget. The move, seen as an escalation of the ongoing power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, has deepened tensions in the oil-rich state.
The governor and his entourage arrived at the Rivers House of Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt, only to find the gates firmly locked. The assembly quarters serve as the legislative chamber for the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the state assembly, which remains loyal to Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The standoff is the latest chapter in the battle for political supremacy between Fubara and Wike, a rift that has left the Rivers legislature deeply divided. In December 2024, Fubara presented a N1.1 trillion budget to the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led assembly, which supports him. However, the Supreme Court later ruled that statutory allocations to Rivers should be withheld until Fubara submits the state’s appropriation bill to the Amaewhule-led faction, effectively forcing the governor’s hand.
Adding to the tension, the Supreme Court also nullified the local government elections held in Rivers on October 5, 2024, further complicating the state’s political landscape.
Amid mounting pressure, Fubara made an attempt to bridge the divide, inviting the Amaewhule-led legislators to a meeting scheduled for Monday. The move was seen as a gesture toward resolving the assembly crisis that has plagued Rivers since 2023. However, his efforts were met with scorn from Wike, who dismissed the governor’s approach as ineffective and insincere.
Wike did not mince words when reacting to Fubara’s letter to the assembly, calling it “useless” and accusing the governor of grandstanding.
“You have had a frosty relationship with an arm of government. If you are a good politician, would you go and write a letter?” Wike questioned during a media chat in Abuja.
“Is it by writing a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG)? What an insult! Is it how it is done? If you are a politician, you know what to do.”
Wike further alleged that Fubara’s visit to the assembly quarters was a mere publicity stunt.
“He carried television people along, just to play to the gallery,” Wike said. “Now they’ll say, ‘Oh, he went to the assembly.’ He knows it’s wrong. Can the president now stand up and run to the assembly? Who does that?”
With the governor effectively barred from presenting the budget and tensions running high, Rivers State remains in a precarious political situation. The Supreme Court’s ruling leaves Fubara with little choice but to engage with the Wike-backed assembly faction, yet the deep-seated hostilities make a resolution uncertain.
