The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed its decision to declare the seats of three lawmakers loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara vacant, clearing the way for their return to legislative duties amid renewed efforts to resolve the state’s protracted political crisis.
The decision was taken during plenary on Monday, following the consideration of a letter from the affected lawmakers, who said they did not receive the notice directing them to resume sittings after the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the political dispute.
The lawmakers are Victor Oko-Jumbo, representing Bonny Constituency; Adolphus Timothy Oruibienimigha, representing Opobo/Nkoro Constituency; and Sokari Goodboy Sokari, representing Ahoada West Constituency.
According to reports, the trio apologised to the Assembly over their prolonged absence, with the lawmakers’ explanation and apology accepted by the House.
The Assembly subsequently directed them to resume their legislative responsibilities. Their reinstatement marks a significant development in the political dispute that has divided Rivers State’s political leadership and legislative arm since October 2023.
The three lawmakers were suspended on October 30, 2023, amid the deepening rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The dispute had escalated that day when lawmakers aligned with Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor.
The crisis subsequently polarised the Assembly, with lawmakers splitting into rival camps over their political loyalties and the control of the legislature. Oko-Jumbo and his colleagues became prominent figures in the faction that backed Fubara, while the dispute triggered prolonged legal, political and institutional confrontations.
The conflict also drew the attention of the Federal Government, culminating in President Tinubu’s intervention in March 2025. The intervention was followed by a period of emergency rule in the state, during which Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly were suspended from office before the restoration of democratic governance.
The latest development comes a day after Wike led members of the Rainbow Coalition to a meeting with Fubara at the governor’s private residence in Port Harcourt on Sunday, as political leaders continued efforts to reconcile the opposing camps.
However, the reconciliation process has attracted criticism from some stakeholders, who have questioned its inclusiveness and raised concerns about whether it adequately addresses the grievances of Fubara’s supporters.
The exclusion of the three lawmakers from the initial discussions had also emerged as a point of contention, with critics arguing that a lasting settlement would require addressing the status of the pro-governor legislators and the divisions within the Assembly.
Despite Monday’s decision, the lawmakers’ political future remains uncertain. They were reportedly screened out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election process and are therefore not expected to return to the Assembly in the next legislative session.
Their reinstatement, however, restores their eligibility to resume legislative duties for the remainder of the current Assembly’s tenure and could be interpreted as another step towards easing tensions between the rival political camps.
The development comes against the backdrop of continuing calls for dialogue, institutional stability and reconciliation in Rivers State, where the prolonged feud has raised concerns about governance, political representation and the functioning of democratic institutions.