Rivers Assembly Reverses Seats Vacated by Three Fubara Loyalists Following Apology Letters and Wike-Led Reconciliation

The Rivers State House of Assembly has rescinded its decision declaring the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant, paving the way for their return to the chamber after nearly three years of absence.

The lawmakers are Victor Oko-Jumbo (Bonny Constituency), Sokari Goodboy Sokari (Ahoada West Constituency) and Timothy Oruibienimigha (Opobo/Nkoro Constituency).

The decision was taken during the 68th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly on Monday.

According to a statement issued by the Speaker’s media aide, Martins Wachukwu, the reversal followed separate letters of appeal submitted by the lawmakers to Speaker Martin Amaewhule.

In the letters, the trio expressed deep apologies to the House, explaining that they failed to resume sitting because they had not received correspondence informing them that their suspension, imposed on October 30, 2023, had been lifted on December 20, 2023, following presidential intervention.

The statement read: “Riding on the letters of appeal sent to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, the trio… the House on Monday, at its 68th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly, rescinded its earlier decision declaring their seats vacant”.

Speaker Amaewhule, while commenting on the appeals, emphasised that irrespective of the emotion-laden tenor of their letters, investigations had shown that they might not have received the correspondence as claimed. He stated that the law does not act on emotion but focuses on justice, regardless of a person’s status.

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 constituencies.

The House had initially declared the seats vacant on October 15, 2024, citing the lawmakers’ continued failure to attend and participate in legislative sittings without just cause, in compliance with Section 109(1)(e) and (f), and (2) of the 1999 Constitution, and accordingly notified the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct by-elections.

The development came a day after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, led members of the Assembly and the 23 local government chairmen to a closed-door meeting with Fubara at the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Sources indicated the meeting, involving the Senator Magnus Abe-led reconciliation committee and members of the Rainbow Coalition, was aimed at resolving outstanding differences between the two political camps ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress has asked the Assembly to explain the legal and constitutional basis for reversing its earlier decision, questioning whether the initial declaration was constitutionally valid and what authority empowered the House to reverse it.

The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Chizy Enyi, urged the Assembly to make relevant proceedings, attendance records and supporting documents available for public scrutiny, stressing that political reconciliation should not override constitutional compliance.