Fubara dismisses reports of a fresh budget showdown, insisting there is no disagreement between the Rivers State Executive and the House of Assembly over the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Governor says the 2026 budget is progressing through due legislative process, expressing confidence that lawmakers will complete their constitutional review and pass the appropriation bill without hindrance.
Rivers Government warns against reviving political tensions, accusing those behind the reports of promoting false narratives capable of dragging the state back into another cycle of controversy.
Clarification comes as the state consolidates political peace, with the administration reaffirming its commitment to working with the legislature to sustain stability and accelerate development.
August 13, (THEWILL) — Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has dismissed reports of a fresh rift between the Executive and the State House of Assembly over the proposed 2026 Appropriation Bill, describing the claims as false and warning against attempts to plunge the state back into political turmoil.
The governor said there was no face-off with lawmakers over the budget proposal, maintaining that the appropriation bill was progressing through the normal legislative process and that both arms of government remained committed to working together in the overall interest of Rivers people.
Fubara’s position was conveyed in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, in response to media reports alleging that the Executive and the Legislature were locked in a disagreement over the 2026 budget.
According to the statement, the reports do not reflect the true state of affairs between the two arms of government, as the governor continues to enjoy a cordial working relationship with members of the House of Assembly.
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“The 2026 Budget proposal has been presented to the House of Assembly; it is going through the normal legislative process and we strongly believe that once the process is completed, it will be passed by the lawmakers”, the statement read.
Nzeshi stressed that the administration remains focused on governance and service delivery, noting that collaboration between the Executive and Legislature remains essential to implementing programmes that will improve the lives of Rivers residents.
He urged members of the public to disregard reports suggesting a breakdown in relations between the governor and the Assembly, describing them as speculative and capable of creating unnecessary anxiety.
The governor also cautioned political actors and individuals against promoting narratives that could undermine the fragile peace the state has recently enjoyed.
“The Rivers State Government has gone through difficult times in the past and is not prepared to be dragged into another round of controversies.
“We, therefore, advise all those bent on promoting negative narratives to desist from such actions forthwith as we need peace and harmony to ensure steady development of Rivers State”, the statement added.
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Determined To Protect Hard-Won Peace
Fubara’s latest intervention underscores his administration’s resolve to prevent a return to the political instability that dominated governance in Rivers State for months.
The clarification comes against the backdrop of the prolonged political crisis that engulfed Rivers State following the fallout between Governor Fubara and his political benefactor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The dispute triggered a deep division in the Rivers State House of Assembly, multiple court cases, impeachment threats, and months of uncertainty that affected governance before a political truce restored relative calm.
The governor has repeatedly maintained that peace, cooperation and institutional stability remain critical to delivering democratic dividends, warning that unnecessary political distractions would only slow development and deny residents the benefits of good governance.
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