The Rivers State House of Assembly has adjourned its sittings indefinitely, creating uncertainty around Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s scheduled 2025 budget presentation.
Political Tensions Rise as Rivers House of Assembly Adjourns Sitting Indefinitely
As the political tension in Rivers State heightens, the House of Assembly, under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule, has adjourned its sittings indefinitely. This decision, reached during a plenary session in Port Harcourt on Friday, comes just days before Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s scheduled date to present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the legislature.
Symfoni reports that Governor Fubara had formally communicated his intention to present the budget on March 19, 2025, or any other suitable date within the month, as per a letter dated March 13 addressed to Speaker Amaewhule. This proposal was in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment and in response to the lawmakers’ request for a re-presentation of the budget.
The indefinite adjournment is the latest development in a series of events that have disrupted the legislative process in Rivers State. The Assembly has been embroiled in a leadership crisis, with legal battles challenging the legitimacy of Speaker Amaewhule and other lawmakers following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has scheduled April 30, 2025, for the adoption of legal processes in a case seeking to declare the seats of these lawmakers vacant.
Governor Fubara’s attempts to engage with the Assembly have been met with challenges. In a previous incident, the governor and his entourage were denied access to the Assembly complex when attempting to present the budget, highlighting the deep-seated divisions within the state’s political landscape.
The indefinite adjournment of the Assembly further complicates the budgetary process. The 2025 Appropriation Bill, which outlines the state’s fiscal policy and development plans, is now in limbo. This delay could have significant implications for public services, infrastructure projects, and overall economic stability in Rivers State.
