The Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday October 19, 2026 rescinded its earlier resolution declaring vacant the seats of three lawmakers after they appealed to the Speaker and apologised for their prolonged absence.
At its 68th legislative sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly, the House considered separate letters of appeal from Hon. Timothy Oruibienimigha (Opobo/Nkoro), Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo (Bonny) and Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari (Ahoada West). The letters were read by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.
In the letters, the three members expressed regret over their failure to resume sittings with their colleagues.
They stated that they had not received any official correspondence informing them that their suspension, imposed on 30 October 2023, had been lifted on 20 December 2023 following presidential intervention.
During the debate, members spoke in favour of accepting the appeals and urged the House to reverse its previous decision. Speaker Amaewhule noted that while the letters carried an emotional tone, investigations indicated the lawmakers may not have received the relevant correspondence as claimed.
He stressed that the law is guided by justice rather than emotion or personal circumstances.
When the question was put, members voted in the affirmative to rescind the earlier resolution, thereby allowing the three legislators to resume their duties and represent their constituencies.
The seats had been declared vacant on 15 October 2024 at the 56th legislative sitting of the Second Session after the three members continued to stay away from sittings without justification. The House cited Section 109(1)(e) and (f) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution and notified the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct bye-elections.
The suspensions originated during the political crisis that affected the Assembly in 2023. Four members were suspended at the 84th sitting of the First Session on 30 October 2023.
Following a presidential meeting on 18 December 2023, the suspensions were lifted at the 89th sitting on 20 December 2023.
