A prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Daboikiabo Warmate, has accused the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, of attempting to become governor through the back door, describing the move as unconstitutional.
Speaking on Daily Break on Trust TV on Friday, Warmate claimed that Amaewhule was positioning himself to personally benefit from the current controversy surrounding the state budget.
Warmate said, “Speaker Martins Amaewhule wants to become governor through the back door, but he will never be. He stands to be the primary beneficiary of this issue.”
Naijaonpoint reports that Warmate’s accusation comes amid growing tensions in Rivers State over the status of the 2026 state budget, with the Speaker at the centre of the political storm.
Warmate referenced Section 122 of the Nigerian 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. This provision is commonly referred to as default appropriation.
He argued that the Rivers State House of Assembly’s actions were not only unconstitutional but also disrespectful to the President and other arms of the federal government.
“This is an insult to the President. The actions of the State Assembly are an insult to the institution of governance, including the Senate and the House of Representatives,” Warmate added, emphasising that the decision undermines established constitutional processes.
Warmate further clarified that the 2025 budget for Rivers State was prepared by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, vetted by the sole administrator, and then presented to the President before being transmitted to the National Assembly.
“The National Assembly passed the budget, and Rivers State now has an appropriation law in place,” Warmate explained. He stressed that any attempt to alter or represent the law locally was misplaced.
“The law already exists, and whatever the governor spends under it is constitutional,” Warmate added, reaffirming that the Rivers State government is operating within the bounds of the law and that the Speaker’s actions were uncalled for.