Rivers Assembly reinstates three pro-Fubara lawmakers

Rivers State House of Assembly has reinstated three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, reversing its earlier decision to declare their seats vacant. The move occurred during the 68th legislative sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly on Monday. The lawmakers, Timothy Oruibienimigha, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency; Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency; and Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West Constituency, submitted letters of apology to the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, explaining their absence from legislative sessions since their suspension was lifted in December 2023. The reinstatement followed a debate in which members of the Assembly supported the appeal. According to a statement released by Martins Wachukwu, a media aide to the Speaker, the lawmakers claimed they had not received notice that their suspension had ended. The Speaker noted that investigations suggested this might have been true. After a vote, the Assembly decided to allow the three lawmakers to return to their positions. The decision follows a reconciliation meeting held on Sunday, led by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, involving members of the state House of Assembly and the 23 local government chairpersons. The meeting took place at Fubara's private residence in Port Harcourt. This effort marks part of ongoing attempts to mend relations between Wike and Fubara, who have been engaged in political conflict for over three years. The political tensions in Rivers State began in late 2023, shortly after Fubara assumed the governorship. Disagreements between Wike and Fubara escalated into a power struggle over control of the state’s political institutions, including the House of Assembly. In October 2023, the Assembly fractured along lines of allegiance to either Wike or Fubara. Twenty-seven lawmakers aligned with Wike, while four remained loyal to Fubara. Edison Ehie, leader of the pro-Fubara faction, secured a court order permitting his group to continue legislative activities. He later became speaker of the factional Assembly before resigning following a peace agreement mediated by President Bola Tinubu in December 2023. Fubara subsequently named Ehie as his chief of staff. In May 2024, Victor Oko-Jumbo took over as speaker of the pro-Fubara faction after Ehie left. Both factions continued conducting legislative work independently, passing budgets and vetting appointments. However, the legal dispute over the Assembly’s leadership eventually favored the Wike-aligned lawmakers. In July 2024, the Court of Appeal restored the 27 lawmakers' status and recognized Amaewhule as speaker. The Supreme Court affirmed this ruling in February 2025, legitimizing the Amaewhule-led Assembly and invalidating decisions made by the opposing faction. In October 2024, the Amaewhule-led Assembly declared the three lawmakers' seats vacant due to their continued absence from legislative sessions. The recent reinstatement reflects a shift in the political dynamics within the Assembly, as efforts to resolve the long-standing conflict between Wike and Fubara gain momentum.