By our Reporter
The Rivers State House of Assembly has rescinded its earlier decision declaring the seats of three lawmakers vacant, paving the way for them to rejoin their colleagues in the legislature.
The lawmakers are Hon. Orubienimigha Timothy, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency; Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency; and Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West Constituency.
The decision was taken on Monday during the 68th Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session of the Tenth Assembly, following separate letters of appeal submitted to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule.
In their letters, which were read during plenary, the lawmakers apologised to the House and explained that they had failed to resume legislative duties because they did not receive correspondence informing them that their suspension had been lifted on December 20, 2023, following presidential intervention.
During deliberations, members of the Assembly supported the appeals and urged the House to reconsider its earlier decision.
Addressing the lawmakers, Amaewhule said investigations suggested that the three members might not have received the correspondence notifying them of the lifting of their suspension. He stressed that the law must be guided by justice rather than emotions.
When the Speaker put the motion to a vote, members voted in favour of rescinding the decision, expressing their willingness to have the affected lawmakers return to the House and represent their respective constituencies.
The three lawmakers were among members suspended amid the political crisis that engulfed Rivers State in October 2023. The Assembly lifted the suspension on December 20, 2023, following a presidential intervention aimed at resolving the political impasse.
However, after the lawmakers failed to resume attendance at legislative sittings, the House, on October 15, 2024, declared their seats vacant, citing Section 109(1)(e) and (f), and subsection (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. It subsequently notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections to fill the seats.
The latest decision reverses that declaration and opens the way for the three lawmakers to return to legislative proceedings.
