APC Chairman Accuses Fubara of Fueling Crisis with Budget Controversy

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of exacerbating political divisions in the state. Okocha criticized the governor’s recent presentation of the 2025 budget to a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing it as a violation of legal norms and a potential precursor to a political crisis.

Governor Fubara presented a N1.1 trillion budget to the faction led by Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo in December 2024. This move has been contested by the APC leader, who claims it disregards judicial rulings and undermines the rule of law.

Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Okocha expressed disappointment with the governor’s actions.

“I expected the governor to use the new year to extend an olive branch and promote peace,” Okocha stated. “Instead, he continues to fuel the flames of division. It is unimaginable and unthinkable that a governor with such a rich background in finance and governance would choose to sidestep legal processes.”

Okocha emphasized that the Rivers State House of Assembly currently has 30 functional members, following the loss of one member to death and the resignation of another. He questioned the legitimacy of presenting the budget to a faction, which he described as an “illegal setting.”

“The Assembly has 30 functional seats, with 27 members on one side and three members on the other. Yet, the budget was presented in a setting that courts have deemed illegitimate. Such actions undermine the integrity of governance in a state as prominent as Rivers.”

Okocha further referenced his experience as Chief of Staff between 2012 and 2015, highlighting that budget presentations traditionally involve the full Assembly. He dismissed the current factional group as a “forum of friends” rather than legitimate legislators.

Citing past Court of Appeal judgments on similar issues, Okocha called on Governor Fubara to prioritize unity and adhere to due process to avert a looming political crisis in the state.