Rivers State Governor Presents 2024 Budget to Unusual Five-Man Assembly as Assembly Seats Declared Vacant

In a surprising turn of events, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State presented the 2024 Budget to an unconventional five-man state Assembly. The presentation unfolded amidst heightened political tension as Edison Ehie, presiding over the assembly, declared the seats of 27 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) vacant.

Edison Ehie, recently affirmed as the authentic Speaker of the state Assembly by a Rivers State High Court ruling, led the five-man assembly. The budget, dubbed the ‘Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation, and Continuity,’ had received approval from the Rivers State Executive Council prior to the presentation.

The proceedings on Wednesday took a dramatic turn as Edison Ehie not only oversaw the budget presentation but also issued declarations of vacancy for the seats of 27 out of the 32 lawmakers who defected to the APC. This move further intensified the political landscape in Rivers State, signaling a significant shift in the composition of the state Assembly.

The budget presentation, occurring amid the political upheaval, highlights the resilience of governance amidst challenging circumstances. Governor Siminalayi Fubara, navigating the complexities of the political landscape, outlined the financial priorities for the state in the coming year.

Source: Daily Trust