Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has said that the 2025 proposed budget for the state was crafted with the anticipation of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s eventual return to office.

Ibas made this disclosure on Wednesday during a budget defence session before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight in Abuja.

He stated that the ₦1.48 trillion draft budget incorporates allocations for the governor and other currently suspended political appointees.

“In anticipation of the eventual return to constitutional order, the draft budget prudently retains provisions for the offices and functions of suspended political actors, some of whom have already drawn on allocated resources in the first quarter and are expected to resume their duties at the expiration of the emergency period,” he told lawmakers.

According to him, the budget aligns with the state’s 2017–2027 Development Plan and aims to sustain governance through the emergency period while preparing for a restoration of constitutional rule.

The proposed spending is balanced against projected revenues of ₦1.4 trillion and is focused on driving infrastructure development, human capital growth, and inclusive prosperity.

The administrator also highlighted difficulties encountered during the budget’s preparation, attributing them to a lack of cooperation from some state officials.

“Regrettably, some state officials withheld critical information required to ensure a more complete capture of those expenditures at the time of submission of the budget estimates,” Ibas explained.

Despite these constraints, he affirmed that the administration operated within legal bounds to consolidate available data and ensure legitimacy of the budget, especially for the already executed first-quarter expenditures.

“Recognising the exigencies under the state of emergency and the need to ensure fiscal credibility, the budget framework integrates expenditure information made available before the submission of the budget proposal to ratify the first quarter expenditures in a lawful and transparent structure,” he added.

Key components of the 2025 budget include:

₦324.5 billion for infrastructure and transportation projects

₦55 billion allocated to relocate and expand the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital

₦50 billion for zonal hospital upgrades

₦38.85 billion for shoreline protection and erosion management

₦30 billion toward developing zonal secondary schools

₦5.75 billion for primary school rehabilitation

₦2.5 billion for women’s economic empowerment initiatives

₦3 billion for youth resource centres

₦20 billion to recapitalize the Rivers State Microfinance Bank for SME support

₦117 billion for pensions, gratuities, and employee benefits

During the session, Ibas expressed appreciation for the committee’s role, stating: “We in Rivers State are most grateful for your commitment. Despite your tight schedules, you have shown unwavering resolve to fulfil your constitutional duties.”

In response, the Ad-Hoc Committee Chairman and House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, praised the budget presentation, particularly its emphasis on social welfare and transparency.

“I want to especially thank you and let you know that this committee is committed to working with you to restore stability, peace, growth, and development in Rivers State,” Ihonvbere said.

He emphasized that the committee would carefully examine the proposal and ensure accountability across all levels.

“We will invite you to send your relevant officials for a proper defence of the budget. In as much as we are committed to joining hands with you to get Rivers State back on track, we are not going to cut corners,” he warned.

Commending specific social components of the budget, he added: “These are areas that touch people’s lives, and we know the plight of their families. We appreciate you for making these bold commitments.”

To mark the 26th anniversary of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, the Federal Government announced the cancellation of both the traditional military parade at Eagle Square and the anticipated nationwide broadcast by President Bola Tinubu. Despite this move, the #EndBadGovernance Movement reaffirmed its call for mass protests across the country.

According to a statement issued by Segun Imohiosen, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), the cancellation of the presidential broadcast is tied to Tinubu’s appearance at a joint session of the National Assembly scheduled for noon.

“Due to President Bola Tinubu’s scheduled attendance at the National Assembly Joint Session, the Presidential National Broadcast on June 12 has been cancelled,” Imohiosen said.

Rather than celebrating, the Take It Back (TIB) movement used the occasion to express deep concerns about the state of the nation.

In a statement from its Osun State chapter, the group lamented worsening poverty levels, insecurity, and economic instability.

It declared that more citizens are living in “monumental poverty.”

Representatives of the #EndBadGovernance Movement in Lagos, Hassan Taiwo ‘Soweto’ and Oloye Adeniji-Adegboyega, emphasized that the planned demonstration in Ikeja would proceed as scheduled.

“As we have informed earlier, the take-off point of the protest in Lagos is Ikeja Underbridge by 7.30 am.”

“We urge workers, artisans, youth, students, market men and women, commercial motorcyclists, the unemployed and all oppressed Nigerians to come out on that day and join us for the peaceful procession,” they said.

The group also addressed law enforcement, urging that protesters’ rights be respected.

“We say this due to the unfolding development from the office of the CP in Lagos. Last week, we wrote to notify the CP.

However, police invited the organisers of the June 12 action to a security meeting/interactive session with the CP on Tuesday morning at the Police State Command, Ikeja Lagos,” the organizers explained.

Victor Lijofi, the TIB’s national coordinator, voiced his frustration in a separate statement. He argued that the ruling class had failed to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians.

“The present state of the country is nothing to write home about, as the promise of a renewed hope by President Tinubu has now turned to renewed hopelessness,” he stated.

“As a matter of fact, 100 million people have been pushed below the poverty line due to poor healthcare, education, unemployment, insecurity, and a poor standard of living.”

“This is because we have leadership, both at the federal and states, who prioritise their greed over the interest of the country.”

Among the group’s key demands are immediate reforms across multiple sectors.

They called for “an end to terrorism, banditry, and insecurity in Nigeria, better funding of education, reversal of all fees in public schools across the country and replace student loans with grants.”

Despite the government’s efforts to tone down the Democracy Day celebrations, the protests reflect growing national dissatisfaction and a deepening rift between citizens and the leadership.

Months after the deaths of several federal lawmakers and the resignations of others, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to conduct by-elections to fill the vacant positions at the National Assembly, leaving many constituencies without representation.

Affected residents have expressed frustration over the delay, accusing the electoral commission of failing to uphold democratic principles.

INEC, however, cites lack of funding as the primary obstacle and has promised to act once financial issues are resolved.

There are currently seven vacant seats in the National Assembly,vtwo in the Senate and five in the House of Representatives.

Five vacancies stem from the deaths of serving legislators, while two resulted from lawmakers assuming new executive positions at the state level.

Two seats in the Senate remain unoccupied following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Uba (APC, Anambra South) in London in September 2024, and the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo (APC, Edo Central) as Governor of Edo State on September 21, 2024.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has formally declared their seats vacant.

Similarly, five federal constituencies are currently without lawmakers:

Rep. Isa Dogonyaro (Garki/Babura, Jigawa) died in May 2024.

Rep. Olaide Akinremi (Ibadan North, Oyo) and Rep. Ekene Adams (Chikun/Kajuru, Kaduna) passed away separately in July 2024.

Rep. Adewunmi Onanuga (Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North, Ogun), Deputy Chief Whip, died in January 2025.

Dennis Idahosa vacated his Ovia Federal Constituency seat after being elected Deputy Governor of Edo State.

Following these deaths, the House of Representatives held a valedictory session in their honour, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.

Residents of affected districts have voiced anger over the prolonged delay, especially in Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, where the death of Rep. Ekene Adams has left the community without representation for over a year.

Benjamin Yuhana Maigari, a community leader in Kajuru, said:

“By-election delay has left us feeling extremely bad and disfranchised because we don’t have a representative.”

“As a community, we are not happy with the government. We expected the election to be conducted within three to four months, but it has been over a year now.”

“Since his death, nothing has come from the federal legislature, no resources, no impact. We feel forgotten, neglected, and unrepresented.”

Similarly, Haruna Ibrahim Nasarawa of Chikun LGA added:

“It’s our right to have a representative in the House of Representatives through a by-election.”

“We are aware that if a lawmaker dies, a by-election is supposed to be held within 90 days. But in our case, it’s been over a year since Ekene Adams passed away, and still no election.”

Constituents from Edo Central Senatorial District and Ovia Federal Constituency have also decried the situation.

Aslem Ojezua, an APC member from Edo Central, said:

“The constitution and electoral act make provisions for time frame to conduct by-election into a vacant seat.
The implication of not conducting the election is that the district is not being represented at the National Assembly.”

Victor Edoro, former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, added:

“Edo Central is not being represented today. Where does the salary and the money for constituency projects for the district go to?
We have been deprived of representative dividend and the Esan people are not happy because as we speak, we don’t have a voice in Nigeria.”

Peter Agwele said “most of us are seeing this as a deliberate way of alienating us as a people. It is unfair.”

From Ovia Federal Constituency, Friday Aghedo, spokesperson to Deputy Governor Idahosa, said:

“We have lost voice at the House of Representative since Idahosa was elected the deputy governor.”

Dr. Jerry Osamede, another constituent, stated:

“It is 150 days now without quality representation of Ovia Federal Constituency. We are no longer getting the democratic dividend from the federal government.”

The PDP condemned the situation as harmful to democratic values.
Hilary Otsu, the PDP Secretary, said:

“It is regrettable because the governor was sworn-in eight months ago, yet the INEC couldn’t do the needful.”

The acting APC chairman in the state, Jarret Tenabe, said:

“The development is against the spirit and letters of our constitution and democratic norms.”

Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, told Daily Trust:

“INEC will conduct all outstanding by-elections in due course. We have been hampered by lack of funds. But we are confident that all funding issues will soon be resolved.”

However, internal sources at INEC also cited security challenges in some constituencies, raising concerns about the safety of election personnel.

Chief Chekwas Okorie, elder statesman and former presidential candidate, criticized INEC’s position:

“INEC is giving excuses that funds are not available to conduct those elections.
But this shouldn’t make INEC to renege on their statutory responsibility.”

The National Assembly should have called INEC to order because there are seats that are vacant in that Assembly and the constituents are not being represented.

“In other words, the constituents have been shut out by the behaviour of INEC, and there are several implications for what INEC is doing.”

Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, emphasized the importance of timely elections:

“Under Sections 76(2), 116(2), and 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), INEC is mandated to conduct by-elections once a formal declaration of vacancy is made by the presiding officer of the legislative house.”

“This situation highlights the need for both legal reforms and greater financial support for INEC. There should be clear guidelines and penalties for the timely declaration of vacancies…”

Prof. Chris Kwaja, political science expert, argued for a review of electoral law:

“We currently run a democracy that is liberal in theory and not in practice. The law must be reviewed in such a way that the power to declare seats vacant, in the case of defections, does not come from the presiding officers of the National Assembly.”

Political analyst Jackson Lekan Ojo condemned the delays outright:

“I wonder what has become of INEC. They are failing in their responsibilities. This is wrong.”

He urged the commission to resolve its funding challenges and restore citizens’ confidence through timely action.

Segun Sowunmi, an ally of Atiku Abubakar, has explained why he would consider leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), following his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

The former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential campaign said he would exit the PDP if party leaders “insist on destroying” the party.

Speaking during an interview on TVC’s Your View on Tuesday, Sowunmi expressed his admiration for the APC, noting that President Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, are stable leaders.

He emphasized, “Unlike other leaders, Tinubu and Buhari don’t jump from one political tendency to the other.”

He stated clearly, “Let me be very upfront. I’ve always said and I’ve said it many times over, if I ever leave the PDP, damn, I’m going to the APC.”

“And why is that? Because at least I can accept that the two main pillars of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are stable people.”

“They don’t jump from one political tendency to the other, and have been damn stable too since 1998.”

Sowunmi also shared that before making any move to the ruling party, he would first consult his friend, Felix Morka, the APC’s National Publicity Secretary, to understand the party’s constitution.

He said, “If I have to go to the APC, I will first of all visit my friend Felix Morka. I will have a sit down with him. I’ll ask for the constitution of the party, I will read it.”

Additionally, Sowunmi condemned the coalition movement led by Atiku, his principal, revealing his disagreement with the efforts.

The former governorship candidate in Ogun State, who claims to have spent about 27 years in the PDP, expressed irritation over the coalition talks.

He said, “One of the reasons why I’m irritated by this talk of coalition that they are doing is that I can’t imagine how decent political people will think that it is their responsibility to be looking for new platform every season.”

“I don’t agree. So if I must leave, I must at least go to where I think they can also be stable forever.”

As a known critic of President Tinubu and his administration, Sowunmi has recently praised the President following their meeting.

He told Channels Television that the visit allowed him to ask questions and better understand Tinubu’s policies.

He maintained, “I could work with Tinubu,” adding that he has known him since 1994.

Sowunmi claimed, “President Tinubu is smarter than all his political rivals, including Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party.”