The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its earlier choice declaring the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant.
The Assembly took the choice a day after FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, led lawmakers and the state’s 23 native authorities chairpersons to a reconciliation assembly with the governor in Port Harcourt.
The lawmakers are Timothy Oruibienimigha, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency; Victor Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency; and Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West Constituency.
The choice was “taken on Monday during the 68th legislative sitting of the fourth session of the 10th Assembly, following separate letters of appeal submitted by the three lawmakers to the Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Amaewhule.”
Martins Wachukwu, a media aide to the speaker, introduced the event in an announcement posted on Facebook on Monday.
According to the assertion, the lawmakers apologised to the House for failing to renew legislative duties after their suspension was lifted in December 2023.
They attributed their continued absence to their alleged failure to obtain official correspondence informing them that the suspension had been lifted following a presidential intervention, the assertion mentioned.
The lawmakers have been amongst 4 members suspended on 30 October 2023 amid the political disaster that divided the meeting into factions loyal to Mr Wike and Mr Fubara.
The assertion mentioned in Monday’s plenary, lawmakers debated the appeals and supported the request to rescind the sooner decision declaring the seats vacant.
Mr Amaewhule mentioned, “Investigations indicated that the three lawmakers might not have received the correspondence notifying them of the lifting of their suspension,” the assertion added.
The lawmakers subsequently voted in favour of reversing the declaration, permitting their colleagues to return to the Assembly, in accordance with the assertion.
The newest choice comes amid renewed efforts to reconcile Mr Wike and Mr Fubara after greater than three years of political hostilities which have repeatedly disrupted governance in Rivers State.
Background
The political disaster in Rivers State started in 2023, months after Governor Fubara succeeded Mr Wike as governor. The disagreement between the previous allies escalated right into a wrestle for management of the state’s political buildings, together with the House of Assembly.
In October 2023, amid an impeachment try in opposition to Mr Fubara by lawmakers loyal to Mr Wike, the Assembly break up into two factions. An overwhelming majority of 27 lawmakers backed Mr Wike, whereas 4 supported the governor.
Edison Ehie, who led the four-member faction loyal to Mr Fubara, obtained a court docket order permitting the group to proceed legislative proceedings and subsequently emerged as speaker of the factional Assembly.
Mr Ehie resigned as speaker and as a member of the Assembly following a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu in December 2023. Mr Fubara later appointed him chief of employees.
In May 2024, Mr Jumbo emerged as speaker of the pro-Fubara faction after Mr Ehie’s departure. The faction continued to carry sittings and move laws, together with contemplating finances proposals and screening commissioner nominees, whereas the Amaewhule-led faction additionally carried out legislative enterprise.
The authorized battle over the Assembly’s management later shifted in favour of the Wike-backed lawmakers. In July 2024, the Court of Appeal reinstated the 27 lawmakers and recognised Martin Amaewhule as speaker. The Supreme Court subsequently ruled in February 2025 in favour of the Amaewhule-led Assembly, restoring the lawmakers’ standing as legit members of the legislature. The ruling additionally affected the authorized standing of selections taken by the rival faction.
In October 2024, the Amaewhule-led Assembly declared the seats of the three lawmakers now in search of reinstatement vacant, citing their continued absence from legislative sittings. The House mentioned it had notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections to fill the vacancies.
Tinubu declares state of emergency
The disaster escalated in March 2025 when Mr Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Mr Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state Assembly for six months. The president appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator of the state.
Mr Tinubu cited the breakdown of governance, the extended dispute between the manager and legislature, and safety issues in saying the measure.
The emergency rule led to September 2025, permitting Mr Fubara and the opposite suspended elected officers to return to their positions.
However, the political truce didn’t completely resolve the dispute. Renewed reconciliation efforts adopted, together with additional interventions by Mr Tinubu. In February 2026, the Assembly withdrew its impeachment transfer in opposition to the governor and his deputy amid recent efforts to ease tensions.
The newest assembly between Mr Wike, the lawmakers, the 23 native authorities chairpersons and Mr Fubara, adopted by Monday’s reversal of the choice declaring the three lawmakers’ seats vacant, might sign progress within the newest reconciliation effort.
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