Rivers Government Dismisses Claims of Rift Between Fubara and State Assembly
ISSN: 2354-4481
By Rita Onuoha
PORT HARCOURT, Rivers State — The Rivers State Government has dismissed reports of a fresh disagreement between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly over the proposed 2026 Appropriation Bill.
The government said the governor was working with the lawmakers to ensure the smooth passage of the budget and advance the interests of residents across the state.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Onwuka Nzeshi, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, following reports alleging tension between the executive and legislative arms of the state government over the 2026 budget proposal.
Nzeshi described the reports as misleading, stressing that there was no disagreement between Fubara and members of the state legislature.
“We wish to make it abundantly clear that His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is not at loggerheads with members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, but rather working closely with them to serve the good people of Rivers State,” the statement said.
According to the governor’s spokesperson, the 2026 budget proposal has already been presented to the House of Assembly and is currently undergoing the required legislative consideration.
He expressed confidence that the lawmakers would conclude the process and pass the appropriation bill in accordance with established legislative procedures.
“The 2026 Budget proposal has been presented to the House of Assembly; it is going through the normal legislative process and we strongly believe that once the process is completed, it will be passed by the lawmakers,” Nzeshi said.
The statement comes against the backdrop of heightened political tensions that have characterised relations among key political actors in Rivers State in recent years.
Rivers has experienced prolonged political disputes involving the executive, legislature and political stakeholders, particularly during the transition from the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike to that of Fubara.
The political crisis intensified in 2023 and 2024, following disagreements between Fubara and Wike, who was governor of the state from 2015 to 2023 and later became Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The dispute also affected the state House of Assembly and generated a series of political and legal controversies.
Against this background, reports of a fresh disagreement over the 2026 budget have attracted attention because of concerns that renewed tension could affect governance and the implementation of government programmes.
However, the Fubara administration said it was not interested in returning the state to another cycle of political confrontation.
“The Rivers State Government has gone through difficult times in the past and is not prepared to be dragged into another round of controversies,” Nzeshi said.
He urged individuals and groups promoting what he described as negative narratives about the relationship between the governor and the lawmakers to desist.
The governor’s aide maintained that peace, cooperation and harmony between the executive and legislative arms were necessary for the state to sustain development and effectively implement its programmes.
The clarification also signals the administration’s intention to project stability as the 2026 budget process continues.
The state government therefore appealed to residents and other stakeholders to disregard reports suggesting that the governor and the House of Assembly were engaged in a fresh confrontation.
It said the budget process remained within the normal legislative framework and expressed optimism that the lawmakers would complete their consideration of the proposal.
The government reiterated that its priority was the welfare and development of Rivers State and called for continued cooperation among the different arms of government.
