Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara has reaffirmed Victor Oko-Jumbo as the legitimate leader of the State House of Assembly. Speaking on Thursday during the signing of the N1.1 trillion 2025 budget at the State House in Port Harcourt, Fubara emphasized that Martins Amaewhule and 26 other members who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All-Progressives Congress (APC) are no longer recognized as lawmakers.

Clarifying the situation, Fubara stated, “For anyone still confused, we have only one assembly, and it is headed by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo. A group set out on a misguided journey months ago, only to realize too late they were heading into dangerous waters. Now they seek to turn back, but the decision has been made.”

Fubara further expressed his frustration over the behavior of the defected members, saying, “No governor in Nigeria would tolerate the kind of disrespect I endured from that group. Our focus remains on the interests of Rivers State, and we will uphold the integrity of governance. We have moved forward, and there’s no turning back.”