A former Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Robinson Ewor, has raised the alarm that Governor Siminalayi Fubara is running the state without a legally approved 2026 budget, describing the situation as illegal and dangerous for governance.
Ewor made the allegation on Wednesday in Ahoada East Local Government Area during a “thank-you” visit by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
According to him, Rivers State currently has no appropriated budget for the 2026 fiscal year, insisting that any expenditure of public funds without the approval of the State House of Assembly amounts to illegality.
“Rivers State has no budget for 2026. Any money being spent without legislative approval is illegal,” Ewor declared.
He blamed the situation on the lack of cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government, stressing that governance cannot thrive where there is no synergy among the three arms of government.
Although the Rivers State Executive Council reportedly approved a ₦1.85 trillion budget proposal on January 2, Ewor said the document has not been forwarded to the House of Assembly for debate and passage.
He linked the development to the lingering political crisis in the state, which earlier forced President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in March 2025, before it was lifted in September of the same year.
Earlier, Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Solomon Ochoma, praised Wike for his grassroots approach to governance, saying the visit would strengthen unity and development in the area.
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Ahoada East I Constituency, Queen Williams, thanked Wike for empowering women during his tenure as governor, assuring him of continued support.
In his remarks, Wike said the visit was to appreciate the people for supporting President Bola Tinubu in 2023 and to mobilise them ahead of the 2027 elections.
He accused his successor of abandoning key projects and halting job programmes initiated under his administration, describing Governor Fubara as an ungrateful leader.
Wike urged Rivers people to continue to align with what he called progressive leadership for the sustained development of the state.
