A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Daboikiabo Warmate, has accused the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, of pursuing a covert agenda to assume the office of governor through unconstitutional means.
Warmate, reacting to the ongoing political crisis in the state, said Amaewhule stands to benefit personally from the budgetary impasse and impeachment threats against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, describing the Speaker’s actions as driven by selfish ambition rather than genuine concern for governance or the rule of law.
According to Warmate, the 1999 Constitution already provides a clear and lawful mechanism for resolving budgetary disputes, rendering the posture of the State Assembly unnecessary and provocative.
He cited Section 122 of the Constitution, which empowers a governor to authorise expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for a period of up to six months where a new budget has not been passed — a process known as default appropriation.
He argued that this constitutional safeguard ensures continuity of governance and makes any attempt to paralyse the executive through legislative brinkmanship untenable.
Warmate further described the conduct of the Rivers State House of Assembly as a slight on democratic institutions, adding that it constitutes an affront not only to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but also to the National Assembly, including the Senate and the House of Representatives, which he described as senior legislative bodies.
He disclosed that the 2025 Rivers State budget was duly prepared by Governor Fubara, reviewed by the sole administrator, submitted to the President and subsequently forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration.
According to him, the National Assembly has since passed the budget, meaning that Rivers State already operates under a valid appropriation law.
Warmate maintained that any attempt to compel the governor to re-present the budget before the state legislature is both misguided and unconstitutional.
He stressed that expenditures incurred under the existing appropriation framework are lawful and should not be weaponised as grounds for political intimidation or impeachment.
He warned that continued legislative aggression under the guise of oversight could further destabilise the state and undermine democratic norms.
