The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its earlier decision to declare the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant, following renewed efforts to resolve the state’s prolonged political crisis.
The decision was taken during plenary on Monday after the lawmakers apologised to the House over their prolonged absence from legislative sittings.
The affected lawmakers are Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny; Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha, representing Opobo/Nkoro; and Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West.
During the sitting, the Assembly read a letter from the three lawmakers in which they explained that they did not receive the correspondence directing them to resume legislative duties following the President’s intervention in the political crisis.
The lawmakers also tendered an apology, which the House accepted, before directing them to return to their legislative responsibilities.
Their reinstatement marks a significant development in the political dispute that has divided the state’s leadership since 2023.
The three lawmakers were suspended on October 30, 2023, the same day the Assembly made its first attempt to impeach Governor Fubara.
Their absence from legislative proceedings subsequently continued for nearly three years amid the protracted disagreement between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The dispute triggered a wider political crisis in Rivers State, with divisions emerging within the state’s political leadership and the Assembly.
The latest decision allows the three lawmakers to resume their duties after the House previously moved to declare their seats vacant.
Wike’s Fresh Meeting With Fubara
The development comes days after Wike led stakeholders of the Rainbow Coalition to meet with Fubara at the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
The meeting was the latest in a series of engagements between the two political camps as efforts continue to ease tensions in the state.
However, the nature and outcome of the discussions have not been publicly disclosed.
The ongoing reconciliation process has attracted questions from some stakeholders, with concerns raised over whether the engagements adequately address the interests of all parties involved.
Some critics have described the process as one-sided, arguing that it did not initially provide for the return of the suspended lawmakers to the Assembly.
The decision to reverse the vacancy declaration has now addressed the lawmakers’ legislative status, although the broader political implications of the reconciliation efforts remain uncertain.
APC Primary Disqualification Limits Lawmakers’ Political Future
Despite their return to the Assembly, the three lawmakers are not expected to return to the House after the expiration of their current tenure.
Also Read: Rivers ADC reacts to Wike, Fubara’s closed-door meetings
They were reportedly screened out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election process, a development that limits their prospects of securing the party’s tickets for another term.
Their reinstatement therefore comes against the backdrop of continuing political realignments in Rivers State, where efforts to resolve the dispute between Wike and Fubara remain a major issue.
For now, the Assembly’s decision restores the three lawmakers’ right to resume legislative duties, while questions remain about the broader direction and inclusiveness of the peace process.