The chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers State, Tony Okocha, has predicted that the state might experience worst political crisis in 2025.

Mr Okocha, who stated this while speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Thursday, also accused Governor Simnilayi Fubara of stoking hostilities in the state.

“I expected the governor to use the new year to extend an olive branch and promote peace, but instead, he continues to fuel the flames of division,” he added.

The APC chairman also blasted the governor over the presentation of the 2025 budget to three members of the state Assembly.

Mr Okocha described the action of the governor as illegal and in violation of court rulings as well as established governance protocols.

He alleged that the governor’s actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the rule of law and judicial pronouncement.

“It is unimaginable and unthinkable that a governor with such a rich background in finance and governance would choose to sidestep legal processes.

“The Assembly has 30 functional members, yet the budget was presented in a setting that courts have described as illegitimate.

“At least, he has seen the presentation of the budget, and I want to avail you people of the opportunity of the fact that I was Chief of Staff and that spanned through 2012-2015. What it means is that I have witnessed three budget presentations.

“In this sense, an Assembly of 32, we lost one to death, one claimed to have resigned, and then we have 30 functional Assembly seats. 27 of the Assembly members are on this side, and three members of the Assembly are on this side.

“Is it not anathema that a budget of a state as prominent and as important as Rivers State will be presented to an illegal setting?

“The Court of Appeal, in their various judgements on issues like these, have touched on these issues, and I refer to them as a forum, maybe a forum of friends but certainly not legislators.”

The APC chairman also described the governor’s leadership style as divisive and confrontational.