Rivers Assembly Reinstates Three Lawmakers After Wike

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Key Takeaways

The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its earlier decision to declare the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant.
The lawmakers are Victor Oko-Jumbo, Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha and Sokari Goodboy Sokari.
The House accepted their apology after they said they had not received the notice asking them to return to sittings.
The lawmakers were suspended on October 30, 2023, amid the political crisis involving Fubara.
Their reinstatement comes shortly after FCT Minister Nyesom Wike met with Fubara and members of the Rainbow Coalition.
The report says the lawmakers are not expected to return after their current tenure because they were screened out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election process.

Rivers Assembly Reverses Decision on Three Lawmakers

The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its earlier decision to declare the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant, allowing them to resume their legislative duties.

The decision was taken during plenary on Monday as efforts to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State continued.

The lawmakers affected by the decision are Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency; Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha, representing Opobo/Nkoro; and Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West.

Their return marks a new development in the prolonged political dispute involving the state government and the Assembly.

Why the Assembly Reinstated the Lawmakers

During plenary, the House considered a letter submitted by the three lawmakers. In the letter, they said they had not received the notice asking them to return to legislative sittings following the President’s intervention in the political crisis.

The lawmakers also apologised to the Assembly.

The House accepted their apology and subsequently directed them to resume their legislative duties, reversing its earlier position on their seats.

The report does not provide further details about the letter or indicate whether additional conditions were attached to the lawmakers’ return.

Background to the Lawmakers’ Suspension

The three lawmakers were suspended on October 30, 2023, the same day the Assembly made its first attempt to impeach Governor Fubara.

Their absence from legislative sittings lasted for almost three years, according to the report.

The suspension occurred during the wider political crisis between Fubara and political figures aligned with Wike. The dispute affected relations between the executive arm of the state government and lawmakers in the Assembly.

The latest decision allows the three lawmakers to resume their legislative duties, although the report indicates that their political future in the Assembly remains limited by developments within the APC primary election process.

Wike’s Meeting With Fubara Adds to Reconciliation Efforts

The lawmakers’ reinstatement comes shortly after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, led members of the Rainbow Coalition to meet Governor Fubara at his private residence in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The meeting was part of ongoing efforts to reconcile the two political camps and bring the crisis in Rivers State to an end.

However, questions have been raised about the reconciliation process, with some stakeholders describing it as one-sided.

Critics have argued that the process did not initially provide for the return of the three lawmakers to the Assembly.

The available report does not establish that Wike’s meeting with Fubara directly caused the Assembly to reverse its decision. The two developments are connected in the wider political context, but the precise relationship between them has not been confirmed.

What the Lawmakers’ Return Means

The Assembly’s decision allows Oko-Jumbo, Oruibienimigha and Sokari to resume their legislative responsibilities.

Their return is also a significant development in the ongoing efforts to ease political tensions in Rivers State, particularly given the circumstances surrounding their suspension.

However, reinstatement does not necessarily resolve the wider political dispute. The report does not confirm that all outstanding disagreements between the political camps have been settled.

The lawmakers’ longer-term prospects in the Assembly are also uncertain. According to the source report, they are not expected to return after their current tenure because they were screened out of the APC primary election process.

What Happens Next?

The immediate next step is for the three lawmakers to resume their legislative duties in line with the Assembly’s directive.

The wider reconciliation process involving Wike, Fubara and other political stakeholders remains an important part of the state’s political situation. However, the available information does not confirm whether further meetings or agreements have been scheduled.

Attention will also remain on the implications of the APC primary election process for the lawmakers’ political future after their current tenure ends.

Conclusion

The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its earlier decision concerning three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accepting their apology and allowing them to return to legislative duties.

The decision follows their prolonged absence from sittings and comes amid continuing efforts to resolve the political crisis involving Fubara and Wike.

Although the reinstatement represents a significant legislative development, the extent to which it will contribute to lasting reconciliation remains unclear. The lawmakers’ future after their current tenure also remains constrained by the reported outcome of the APC primary election process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Which three lawmakers did the Rivers Assembly reinstate?

The lawmakers are Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny; Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha, representing Opobo/Nkoro; and Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West.

2. Why were the three lawmakers suspended?

They were suspended on October 30, 2023, the same day the Rivers State House of Assembly made its first attempt to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

3. Why did the Assembly allow them to return?

The lawmakers submitted a letter stating that they had not received the notice asking them to return to sittings following the President’s intervention. They apologised, and the House accepted their apology before directing them to resume their duties.

4. How does Wike’s meeting with Fubara relate to the reinstatement?

The meeting took place shortly before the Assembly’s decision and formed part of wider reconciliation efforts. However, the report does not establish that the meeting directly caused the lawmakers’ reinstatement.

5. Were the lawmakers absent from legislative sittings for a long time?

Yes. The report says they had been absent for almost three years following their suspension in October 2023.

6. Will the lawmakers return to the Assembly after their current tenure?

According to the source report, they are not expected to return after their current tenure because they were screened out of the APC primary election process.