Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State was on Wednesday locked out of the temporary Rivers State House of Assembly complex along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, preventing him from presenting the 2025 budget.
Fubara arrived at the complex with his entourage, only to find the entrance gate locked, effectively barring him from gaining access.
The unexpected blockade sparked tension as no official explanation was provided for the decision.
Sources within the Assembly claimed that the governor had failed to officially notify lawmakers of his visit. However, Fubara refuted this, insisting that he had duly informed Speaker Martins Amaewhule through a formal letter.
“I communicated my coming to the Speaker through a letter, yet the entrance was locked,” Fubara stated. He further disclosed that all efforts to reach Amaewhule via telephone since Tuesday had been futile.
The incident comes amid an ongoing political tussle in the state. The lawmakers had earlier given Fubara a 48-hour ultimatum to present the budget. A faction of the Assembly, consisting of four lawmakers loyal to Fubara, had previously approved the budget. However, the Supreme Court recently recognized the 27-member faction aligned with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the authentic Rivers State House of Assembly.
Details later…
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