The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its earlier decision declaring the seats of three lawmakers vacant following separate letters of appeal and apology submitted to the House.
The decision was taken on Monday, October 19, 2026, during the 68th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.
The affected lawmakers are Hon. Timothy Oruibienimigha, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency; Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency; and Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West Constituency.
According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Martins Wachukwu, the lawmakers, in separate letters read during plenary, apologised to the Assembly for their prolonged absence from legislative proceedings.
They explained that their failure to resume legislative duties followed their alleged non-receipt of official correspondence notifying them that their suspension, imposed on October 30, 2023, had been lifted on December 20, 2023, following presidential intervention in the state’s political crisis.
During deliberations, members of the Assembly considered the appeals and expressed support for reversing the earlier decision, stressing the need to allow their colleagues to resume their legislative responsibilities and represent their constituencies.
Speaking on the development, Speaker Amaewhule acknowledged the emotional tone of the letters but maintained that the Assembly’s decision must be guided by justice and the rule of law.
He disclosed that investigations suggested the affected lawmakers might not have received the correspondence informing them of the lifting of their suspension.
According to him, the law does not operate on emotions or discriminate between the rich and the poor but is concerned solely with justice.
Following deliberations, the Speaker put the motion to rescind the earlier declaration to a vote, and members unanimously supported the reversal.
The development effectively overturns the Assembly’s October 15, 2024, resolution declaring the three legislative seats vacant over the lawmakers’ continued absence from parliamentary proceedings.
It will be recalled that four lawmakers were suspended on October 30, 2023, during the 84th Legislative Sitting of the First Session of the Tenth Assembly amid the political crisis that engulfed Rivers State.
Following a presidential intervention on December 18, 2023, the Assembly lifted the suspension on December 20, 2023, during its 89th Legislative Sitting.
However, the continued absence of the three lawmakers prompted the House, during its 56th Legislative Sitting of the Second Session on October 15, 2024, to invoke Section 109(1)(e), (f) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, to declare their seats vacant.
The Assembly subsequently notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections to fill the affected seats.
Monday’s resolution now paves the way for the three lawmakers to return to the Assembly and resume their legislative duties.
