The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its decision to declare the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant, following their letters of apology to the legislature.
The resolution was adopted on Monday during the Assembly’s 68th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly, allowing the lawmakers to resume their legislative duties.
The affected members are Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency; Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West Constituency; and Timothy Orubienimigha, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency.
According to a statement issued by the Speaker’s media aide, Martins Wachukwu, the lawmakers appealed to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, expressing regret over their prolonged absence from legislative sittings.
Their letters, read during plenary, reportedly explained that they did not return to the Assembly because they had not received official communication informing them that their suspension had been lifted in December 2023.
The lawmakers were among four members suspended on October 30, 2023, amid the political crisis that rocked Rivers State. Their suspension was lifted on December 20, 2023, following presidential intervention.
However, the three lawmakers continued to stay away from sittings, prompting the Assembly, on October 15, 2024, to declare their seats vacant and notify the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct bye-elections.
The statement said lawmakers who considered the appeals during Monday’s sitting supported the request for reinstatement and called for the earlier decision to be reversed.
Speaker Amaewhule said investigations suggested that the lawmakers might not have received the correspondence notifying them of the lifting of their suspension, as they had claimed.
He also stressed that decisions of the legislature should be guided by justice rather than emotions.
Following deliberations, members voted in favour of rescinding the decision, paving the way for the three lawmakers to return to the Assembly.
“When the Speaker put the question on rescinding the earlier decision to a vote, members voted in the affirmative, expressing their willingness to have their colleagues rejoin them in representing their respective constituencies,” the statement said.
After the resolution was adopted, Amaewhule directed the lawmakers to resume sitting and join their colleagues in legislative activities.
The development comes amid renewed efforts to reconcile political differences in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On Sunday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly led members of the state Assembly and the 23 local government chairmen to a closed-door meeting at Fubara’s private residence.
The meeting, which began at about 4:30 pm, was said to have involved Wike, the reconciliation committee led by Senator Magnus Abe, and members of the Rainbow Coalition.
Sources indicated that the gathering was intended to address unresolved disagreements between Wike and Fubara, who were previously political allies, as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike has been appointed coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign council in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.
