The Tony Okocha-led All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has criticized the 2025 budget presentation by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to the three man Rivers State House of Assembly, chaired by Victor Oko-Jumbo, describing the process as an “aberration.”
Fubara had presented the N1.188 trillion 2025 budget to the three-member Assembly led by Oko-Jumbo on December 30, 2024.
Speaking during a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Okocha emphasized that the Court of Appeal had deemed the Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly illegal, referring to it as merely a “forum”.
He cited a judgment by Justice Omotosho, which instructed Governor Fubara to re-present the budget to the Assembly under the leadership of Martins Amaewhule.
Okocha further stated that no court had declared the seats of Amaewhule and others vacant, asserting that the governor had no authority to take such actions without a proper judicial ruling.
“Now in this sense, an Assembly of 32. We lost one to death, one claimed to have resigned, and then we have 30 functional Assembly seats.
“Twenty-seven of the Assembly members are on this side, three members of the Assembly are on this side.
“Between you and I, is it not an anathema that a budget of a state as prominent and as all important as Rivers State will be presented to an illegal setting?
“Court of Appeal in their various judgements on issues like these have touched on issues and has referred to them as Forum. They never ever imagined the word “Assembly”. They say they’re a Forum.
“Maybe a Forum of friends but certainly not legislators.
“From the days of Omotosho, way back in January 2024, it is clear in the judgement of Omotosho that the budget has to presented to a legislative arm under the leadership of Right Honorable Martins Chike.
“Other courts, either that they are appealing or were going to seek further explanations have said over time that the governor presenting a budget to three members is completely unspeakable.”
He described the ongoing political unrest in Rivers State as a “tragedy,” hinting at the involvement of an unnamed individual orchestrating the crisis behind the scenes.
Okocha expressed concern that the governor’s actions could lead to heightened hostility in 2025, labeling the situation a “complete negation” of the state’s expectations.
Rivers: Okocha-led APC condemns Fubara’s 2025 budget presentation