Daboikiabo Warmate, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, is attempting to become governor “through the back door,” a move he described as unconstitutional.
Speaking on Daily Break on Trust TV on Friday, Warmate said Amaewhule stood to benefit personally from the current controversy surrounding the state budget.
“Speaker Martins Amaewhule want to become governor through the back door but he will never be, its because he is going to be the primary beneficiary of this issue,” he said.
He referenced Section 122 of the Constitution, which allows a governor to spend from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for up to six months after the expiration of a budget if the next budget has not been passed – a provision commonly referred to as “default appropriation”.
Warmate described the action of the Rivers State House of Assembly as an insult, not only to the President, but also to the institution of governance, including the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“its an insult to the President the action of the State of Assembly, is an insult to the president to the institution to their senior which is the Senate and the House of Representatives.”
He explained that the 2025 budget was prepared by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, vetted by the sole administrator, presented to the President, and subsequently transmitted to the National Assembly.
According to Warmate, the National Assembly passed the budget, and Rivers State now has an appropriation law in place.
“Any attempt to have the governor represent the law locally is misplaced. The law already exists, and whatever the governor spends under it is constitutional,” he stated.
