Rivers Assembly Slams Fubara Over Budget Claims, Denies Impeachment Plot

The political standoff between Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the State House of Assembly has taken a new turn, with lawmakers dismissing the governor’s recent claims and shedding light on the inner workings of the Assembly amidst the ongoing crisis.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Post, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and official spokesperson of the Assembly, Hon. Enemi George, addressed a series of allegations made by Governor Fubara, particularly surrounding the 2025 budget presentation, claims of being locked out of the Assembly quarters, and speculations about an impeachment plot.

Contrary to Governor Fubara’s assertion that the Assembly was frustrating his efforts to present the 2025 budget, George stated that the House had repeatedly called on the governor to submit the document, even writing formally to him following the Supreme Court judgment which reinstated the lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He insisted that no official communication was received from the governor indicating his intention to present the budget. “We have been begging the governor to bring the budget,” George said, adding that the claim the governor was denied entry into the Assembly quarters is “totally untrue.”

According to George, the location the governor visited was the Assembly Quarters, not the demolished Assembly complex, and access to that space is strictly controlled due to its residential nature. “The governor just drove to the gate, made a press statement, and left. If he genuinely intended to present the budget, he should have followed legislative protocol and communicated with the Speaker,” he said.

George also clarified that the Assembly had requested a new list of commissioners because, according to the Supreme Court ruling, previous appointments had been invalidated. He said the lawmakers urged Fubara to resend the list—even if it contained the same names—for legal regularization, but the governor declined and instead directed the commissioners to challenge the Assembly in court.

On the reported refusal of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Chairman, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli, to honour the Assembly’s invitation, George stated that the commission acted on the governor’s instructions not to receive correspondence from the Assembly. He added that the same directive had disrupted communication with several government agencies.

The House’s recent call for the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the Chief Judge of the state over alleged age falsification was also clarified. George said the Assembly opted to hand over the matter to a federal agency due to obstruction from state officials and the judiciary’s refusal to respond to their summons.

On the widely reported “indefinite adjournment” of the Assembly, George clarified that the term “sine die” used during the last plenary merely indicated a non-specific return date, not a permanent closure. “It can be tomorrow, next week—there’s no fixed date. The Clerk can summon us at any time,” he explained.

Addressing the speculation around an alleged plot to impeach the governor, George dismissed it as unfounded. He emphasized that no such motion had been discussed or tabled on the floor of the House, stating, “Impeachment doesn’t just fall from the sky. There must be an investigation, a motion, and a proper process. None of that has happened.”

The lawmaker expressed concern over the stagnant state of governance in Rivers, urging both sides to prioritize the people over political interests. “We are not moving forward. Everyone needs to drop their personal ambition and focus on the collective good of the state,” he stated.

He also revealed that the Assembly has been financially crippled since the crisis escalated in 2024, with over a year’s worth of institutional allowances withheld by the state government. This includes operational funds for nearly 200 staff and critical resources like diesel for power generation.