APC Chairman Tony Okocha Accuses Rivers Governor Sim Fubara of Fueling Political Division Over Budget Presentation

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has alleged that Governor Sim Fubara is deepening political rifts within the state.

Okocha criticized Fubara for presenting the 2025 budget to a faction of the State House of Assembly, warning that the move could lead Rivers into an unprecedented political crisis.

In December, DAILY POST reported that Governor Fubara submitted a N1.1 trillion budget to the faction led by Victor Oko-Jumbo. The four lawmakers in the group had previously read the governor’s request to present the appropriation bill during their session.

Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Okocha accused the governor of ignoring legal and judicial directives in the budget process.

“I expected the governor to use the new year as an opportunity to foster unity and promote peace, but instead, he persists in deepening the divide,” Okocha said.

He expressed disbelief that a governor with significant expertise in finance and governance would bypass due legal procedures.

“The Assembly has 30 active members, yet the budget was presented in what courts have already deemed an illegitimate gathering. A budget for a state as significant as Rivers cannot be laid before a group that is not recognized as legitimate legislators,” he added.

Okocha also cited his experience as Chief of Staff from 2012 to 2015, emphasizing the irregularity of the current situation. He noted that out of 32 Assembly seats, one member had died, and another claimed to have resigned, leaving 30 functional members. Of these, 27 legislators are on one side of the divide, while only three align with the faction that received the budget presentation.

He concluded by referencing past rulings by the Court of Appeal, stating, “The courts have addressed issues like this before, and they clearly indicated that such gatherings are more akin to social forums than legislative assemblies.”