Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State was locked out of the Port Harcourt Aba Road temporary Rivers State House of Assembly Complex on Wednesday as he arrived to present the 2025 budget.
Fubara, accompanied by his entourage, found the entrance gate to the assembly complex shut. While no official reason was provided for the lockout, sources within the assembly suggested that the governor failed to formally notify the lawmakers of his visit and the purpose.
However, Fubara contended that he had communicated his arrival to the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, via letter and had made several unsuccessful attempts to reach him by phone since Tuesday.
The governor had been given a 48-hour ultimatum by the assembly to present the budget, which was approved by a four-member faction loyal to him. However, the Supreme Court recently recognized a 27-member faction loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
