2026 Budget: Rivers Gov Fubara Not Due to Present New Budget Until July — Ex-Lawmaker

A former member of the National Assembly, Chief Ogbonna Nwuke, has clarified that Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is not expected to present the 2026 budget to the state House of Assembly until July, explaining that an existing appropriation is still in effect.

Nwuke, who represented Etche-Omuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, recalled that during the state of emergency in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu transmitted the state budget to the National Assembly around July 2025, which was subsequently approved as the state’s official appropriation.

“The budget passed last year is for a full year, not a six-month allocation,” Nwuke said. “So how do you insist, because this is the point sometimes when you look at these lawmakers who only God knows how they analyse issues.”

He added that supplementary budgets are initiated by the executive only if there is a need, such as a shortfall in revenue or adjustments in debt servicing.

“You have a budget that was passed by the National Assembly and then you want another budget now presented. And when the man (governor) said no, you now said he should present a supplementary budget. What is the objective of a supplementary budget?” Nwuke asked.

Echoing this view, a member of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Forum and pioneer spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Anabs Sara-Igbe, said the life cycle of a budget is one year.

“Budget cycle is one year. The lifespan of an appropriation is one year. The last appropriation was June, July last year. So there is no hurry to make another budget before then,” Sara-Igbe stated.

The clarification comes amid ongoing political tension in Rivers State, which has been marked by a bitter power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The state has experienced months of political crisis, including divisions within the state House of Assembly, impeachment threats against the governor, and legal battles over the legitimacy of various government actions.

The political turmoil in Rivers State reached a peak in 2024 when a faction of the state House of Assembly, loyal to Wike, initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara. The crisis prompted intervention from President Tinubu, who brokered a peace agreement between the warring parties.

However, the truce has remained fragile, with repeated flare-ups over issues including the control of local government administration, the composition of the state House of Assembly, and the allocation of political resources.

The controversy over the state budget is the latest flashpoint in this ongoing political crisis. Members of the state House of Assembly have reportedly demanded that Governor Fubara present a new budget or a supplementary appropriation, a demand that has been rejected by the governor and his supporters.

Sara-Igbe accused some lawmakers of using impeachment threats as leverage to secure automatic political tickets for future elections.

He alleged that the push for impeachment was linked to Governor Fubara’s refusal to give N1 billion each to lawmakers who had already received N350 million from the former Administrator, without evidence of tangible projects.

“The High Court gave an order stopping them from proceeding with the impeachment; likewise stopping the Chief Judge from taking action on the impeachment. But fresh facts have emerged,” he said. “The purpose of the impeachment was because Governor Fubara refused to give them N1bn each. The member representing Etche Constituency came out openly to say that they have received N350m and Sim refused to give them the balance. That is the crux of the matter.”

Sara-Igbe questioned the lawmakers’ commitment to development, saying: “First of all, they have admitted collecting N350m. Let them tell the state or their constituency what they have done with the N350m before they ask for N1bn. Some of them are building big houses, some are becoming chiefs, and there is no meaningful impact to say this is what they did with the N350m they collected. Now you want the governor to give you N1bn. Some of them have been there for eight years.”

He contrasted the approach of Governor Fubara with that of his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, highlighting the governor’s patience and democratic style.

“Mr governor is very humble and patient; that is why they are doing what they are doing. He has never issued any executive order like Wike did. If he had issued executive orders, maybe by now some of them would have been arrested. Neither has he invited the EFCC to find out what they have done with the N350m they have collected,” Sara-Igbe said.

He added that the impeachment threat was also motivated by the lawmakers’ fear of losing party tickets in future elections.

“So this impeachment threat is to negotiate. But if I were the governor, I would allow them to go and contest with others. If they win, no problem. If they don’t, I will not give them an automatic ticket. They have caused more harm than good to the state,” Sara-Igbe stated.