FRESH CRISIS: Fubara Will Not Present 2026 Budget As Rivers Assembly Adjourns To Next Year, A Move That Could Reignite Troubles

Barely two months after the suspension of emergency rule in Rivers State and the reinstatement of democratic structures, tensions have again resurfaced between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly after members of the house on Friday told the Governor that his alleged failure to fully constitute the state executive council and the lack of appointment of an attorney general for the state constitute a breach of the constitution.

The development has triggered a new wave of concern among political observers, who fear the state may be drifting back into the deep-seated crisis that engulfed it for much of 2024 and early 2025. The latest confrontation unfolded during plenary after the House Leader, Major Jack, briefed members regarding what he described as the governor’s “persistent failure to form a functional cabinet,” warning that such negligence was slowing the pace of development in the state.

According to Jack, the absence of a fully constituted executive council has not only stalled administrative processes but also undermined accountability in governance. Under Nigeria’s constitutional framework, the executive council plays a pivotal role in budget planning, policy implementation, and legal oversight, especially through the office of the Attorney General, who serves as the chief law officer of the state. The lawmakers argued that Fubara’s delay is therefore not just an administrative oversight but a breach serious enough to attract constitutional consequences.

But the most telling sign of a looming crisis emerged when the House suddenly adjourned plenary to Monday, January 26, 2026, a date that effectively prevents Governor Fubara from presenting the 2026 Appropriation Bill before the end of the year. Traditionally, governors present the state budget in the last quarter of the year to allow for consideration, passage, and implementation starting from January.

The implications of this adjournment are explosive. By shutting down plenary until late January, the lawmakers have technically stalled the budget process, a move analysts believe could be interpreted as a deliberate political strategy, possibly to frustrate the governor, trigger a constitutional showdown, or even set the groundwork for impeachment proceedings.

Only weeks ago, Fubara had publicly stated that his administration was concluding arrangements for the 2026 budget presentation. He also revealed that the newly reconstructed Assembly Complex, which was demolished during the height of the crisis in late 2023, would be completed and ready for legislative activities by December 2025. The governor had expressed optimism that the budget session would be held in the refurbished complex to demonstrate a fresh start for his administration and the legislature.

However, Friday’s plenary introduced unexpected complications. Not only did the Assembly adjourn to next year, the lawmakers also rejected a proposal to move into the nearly completed new Assembly Complex, raising questions about their intentions and reopening old wounds about the legitimacy of the structure and the tug-of-war that once surrounded it.

Beyond the political undercurrents, the House used the plenary to spotlight what it described as “worsening decay in public education infrastructure.” Acting on the report of the House Committee on Education, lawmakers condemned the vandalisation of facilities at Township School in Port Harcourt, as well as other public schools across the state. They accused the executive arm of failing to address the widespread rot despite repeated appeals.

One of the most striking remarks came when legislators questioned the management of the over N600 billion reportedly left in the state treasury by former Sole Administrator, Rear Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas (rtd), who oversaw the state during the six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu earlier this year. According to the lawmakers, the massive amount should have been sufficient to catalyse substantial rehabilitation of educational infrastructure and other key sectors, yet little improvement has been seen.

Friday’s legislative session reflects a growing sentiment within the Assembly that the executive arm is not meeting its responsibilities, a development reminiscent of the intense political hostilities that defined Rivers politics throughout 2023 and 2024.

To recall, President Tinubu had in February 2025 suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly itself for six months, citing a prolonged political crisis that had crippled governance and posed security risks. The period marked the first time since 1999 that federal emergency measures were applied at such scale in a Nigerian state.

During the emergency rule, Rear Admiral Ibas administered the state, and at the end of his tenure in September, democratic institutions were reinstated. There were widespread expectations that the crisis which had pitted Governor Fubara against his predecessor and political godfather, former Governor Nyesom Wike, as well as the Assembly, had been resolved through a peace deal brokered by stakeholders within and outside the state.

Indeed, upon resumption of democratic rule on September 18, 2025, political actors projected a new era of cooperation and stability. Reports at the time suggested that Fubara, Wike, and the Assembly leadership had agreed to rebuild trust and work together for the progress of the state.

However, the latest developments suggest that the peace achieved was fragile at best. The decision of the Assembly to adjourn until January, knowing full well the implications for the budget, has been interpreted by some as a calculated political maneuver that could reignite the storm that had only recently subsided.

Some analysts warn that if the situation escalates, Rivers State could once again be thrust into political turmoil, with consequences for governance, security, and the state’s economy. Others foresee possible negotiations in the coming days if influential actors move to prevent another confrontation.

For now, Rivers residents and political watchers are left speculating: Will Governor Fubara be prevented from presenting the 2026 budget? Is the Assembly preparing grounds for an impeachment? And is the fragile peace in Rivers State already collapsing?

Only the coming weeks will provide answers, but one thing is clear, the political clouds over Rivers State are beginning to darken once again.