The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its earlier decision to declare the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant, recalling them amid the political crisis in the state.

The decision was reached during plenary on Monday following appeals by the lawmakers, who were suspended in October 2023.

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

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

The statement, titled ‘Rivers Assembly rescinds decision on 3 vacant seats’, was sent to journalists.

It 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 of Hon. Timothy Oruibienimigha, Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, and Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency, Bonny Constituency, and Ahoada West Constituency respectively, the House on Monday, at its 68th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly rescinded its earlier decision declaring their seats vacant.

“In their separate letters of appeal read by the Speaker at Plenary, the trio expressed a deep-seated apology to the House, claiming that they failed to resume sitting with their Colleagues because there was no correspondence intimating them that their suspension of 30th October, 2023 was lifted on the 20th December, 2023, after the presidential intervention.

“Debating on the acceptability or otherwise of the appeal, members submitted in favour of the plea and urged the House to rescind the earlier decision.

“Commenting on the letter, and adumbrating on the submissions of Members, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amaewhule emphasised that irrespective of the emotion-laden tenor of their letters of appeal, the point to note is that investigation has shown that they may not have received the correspondence as claimed.”

The statement quoted Amaewhule as stressing that the law must be applied without sentiment and that justice should guide the Assembly’s decision.

It continued, “When the Speaker put the question on the premise of rescinding the earlier decision, Members voted in the affirmative, willing to see their colleagues join them to speak for their various constituencies.

“Recall that in the wake of the political imbroglio that engulfed the State, more particularly the House of Assembly, four Members of the House were suspended at the 84th Legislative Sitting of the First Session of the Tenth Assembly on October 30, 2023; and following the presidential parley of 18th December, 2023, the suspension was lifted on the 20th of December, 2023 at the 89th Legislative Sitting of the First Session.

“However, following the continued failure or refusal of the trio to attend and participate in legislative sittings and businesses of the Assembly for no just cause, the House at its 56th Legislative Sitting of the Second Session of the Tenth Assembly, on 15th October, 2024, in compliance with Section 109(1)(e) and (f), and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 resolved to declare their seats vacant, and accordingly notified the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct elections to fill the vacant seats.”

Following the vote to reverse the earlier decision, Amaewhule directed the three lawmakers to resume legislative duties and join their colleagues in the Assembly.

The development comes after a meeting on Sunday at Fubara’s private residence, where the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, led members of the Assembly and the 23 local government chairmen to meet with the governor.

The meeting reportedly started at about 4.30 pm.