The political landscape in Rivers State is facing renewed turbulence as concerns mount over the legality of government spending for the 2026 fiscal year. A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has sounded the alarm, warning that the administration may be operating without a properly appropriated budget.
Budget in Limbo Sparks Legal Concerns
Robinson Ewor, the immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP in Rivers State, has expressed deep worry over what he describes as the "precarious state" of the state's 2026 budget. Ewor lamented that despite the passage of time, Rivers State has yet to have a legally passed budget for the current fiscal year.
The crisis stems from the ongoing political feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Following renewed tensions involving Fubara, Wike, and the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, the State Executive Council (SEC) only managed to approve a proposed budget of N1.854 trillion on Friday, January 2, 2026.
This budget, tagged 'Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development,' has not undergone further legislative deliberation. With the collapse of rival legislative factions into a single House now aligned with Wike's camp and led by Amaewhule, political observers note that Governor Fubara can no longer bypass the Assembly on critical budgetary matters.
During a "thank you" visit by Wike to Ahoada East Local Council on January 7, Ewor voiced his apprehension. He raised the serious concern that the state governor might have been spending public funds without the legal backing of an appropriated budget.
Wike's Allegations and APC Defection Dynamics
During his tour of local councils, Minister Nyesom Wike made a significant allegation against his successor. He claimed that Governor Fubara cancelled an employment procedure established by his administration designed to employ 10,000 youths in the state.
"I employed 10,000 Rivers youths. The person we handed over power to cancelled that job," Wike stated, adding that during his tenure, Rivers State was the envy of other states in the federation.
Wike clarified that his visit was primarily to thank the people for voting for President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 general election and to mobilize support for the 2027 polls.
In a related development, Bala Ibrahim, the Director of Information for the All Progressives Congress (APC), commented on the potential of Wike defecting to the ruling party. In an interview, Ibrahim disclosed that Wike would be welcomed into the APC but would have to accept a subordinate position to Governor Fubara if he joined.
"He will be given a seat. There will be a place for him. It's a choice for him to be under Fubara," Ibrahim said, emphasizing the party's hierarchy. "When he was the governor, he was followed; now that he is not the governor he must follow. You can't carry the position of leadership after vacating the seat."
PDP Expulsions Stand Firm Amidst Internal Rift
The internal crisis within the PDP continues to simmer. Emmanuel Ogidi, the South-South PDP Chairman, has insisted that the expulsion of Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, and others from the party remains valid and will stand.
Appearing on Channels Television's The Morning Brief, Ogidi stated, "Nigerians know the truth. They (Wike, Fayose, Anyanwu, others) are just making noise. They've been expelled."
The PDP had expelled Wike, Fayose, Samuel Anyanwu, and eight other members during its national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November. The party cited "anti-party" activities inconsistent with its collective interests as the reason for the drastic action and later issued formal certificates of expulsion to the affected individuals.
In a retaliatory move, the faction within the PDP loyal to Wike announced the expulsion of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and others who supported the initial expulsions, highlighting the deep divisions plaguing the opposition party.
The combination of a stalled budget, serious allegations of terminated employment schemes, and bitter party politics paints a picture of a state grappling with significant governance and political challenges as it moves through 2026.
