The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its decision declaring the seats of three lawmakers vacant over their failure to attend plenary sessions after their suspension was lifted in December 2023.
The lawmakers are Timothy Oruibienimigha of Opobo/Nkoro Constituency, Victor Oko Jumbo of Bonny Constituency and Sokari Goodboy Sokari of Ahoada West Constituency.
The reversal followed separate appeals by the lawmakers, which were considered during the 68th legislative sitting of the fourth session of the 10th Assembly on Monday.
Speaker Martin Amaewhule, while reading the letters of appeal at plenary, said the lawmakers expressed regret over their failure to resume legislative duties, attributing their absence to a lack of notification that their suspension had been lifted.
They maintained that they did not receive official correspondence informing them of the lifting of their suspension on December 20, 2023, following presidential intervention.
The lawmakers had been suspended on October 30, 2023, during the political crisis that engulfed Rivers State and its legislature.
Contributing to the debate, members of the Assembly supported the appeals and urged their colleagues to reconsider the earlier decision.
Amaewhule said an investigation indicated that the lawmakers might not have received the letters notifying them of the lifting of their suspension. He added that the House should be guided by justice rather than emotion in determining the matter.
The Speaker subsequently put the question to a vote, and members voted in favour of rescinding the resolution declaring the three seats vacant.
The development clears the way for the affected lawmakers to return to legislative activities and resume representation of their constituencies.
The Assembly had declared their seats vacant on October 15, 2024, citing their continued failure to attend sittings and participate in legislative proceedings despite the lifting of their suspension.
At the time, the House invoked Sections 109(1)(e) and (f), and 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution, and notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections to fill the vacancies.
The suspension of the lawmakers was lifted on December 20, 2023, following a presidential intervention on December 18, 2023.
Monday’s decision marks a reversal of the Assembly’s earlier position after it considered the lawmakers’ explanation that they were not formally notified of the lifting of their suspension.
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