{
  "id": 15628797,
  "title": "Rivers Assembly Rescinds Decision on Three Pro-Fubara Lawmakers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/rivers-assembly-rescinds-decision-on-three-pro-fubara-lawmakers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T16:09:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/10/19/rivers-assembly-rescinds-decision-on-three-pro-fubara-lawmakers/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Rivers State House of Assembly has withdrawn its decision to declare the seats of three pro-Governor Siminalayi Fubara lawmakers vacant, signaling a renewed push for reconciliation between the governor and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. The affected lawmakers are Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari, and Hon. Orubienimigha Timothy, whose seats were deemed vacant on October 15, 2025, after they missed several legislative sittings following their suspension. The decision to revoke the declaration came after the lawmakers sent letters on October 16, 2026, urging the House to reconsider their seats' status. They claimed they were unaware of the suspension's lifting, which led to their absence from plenary sessions. The Speaker, Hon. Martin Amaewhule, read the letters during a plenary meeting on Monday. The lawmakers argued that they had not received any communication informing them of the suspension's end, explaining their failure to return to the legislative chamber. After reviewing the letters, the House voted to rescind its earlier decision, paving the way for the lawmakers to potentially resume their positions. Initially suspended on October 30, 2023, during the ongoing political conflict between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, the trio's suspension was lifted on December 20, 2023, following a peace initiative by President Bola Tinubu. Despite their suspension being lifted, their absence from legislative sessions prompted the Assembly to declare their seats vacant in October 2025, invoking Section 109(1)(e) of the amended 1999 Constitution. The House subsequently written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to request a bye-election to fill the positions. The recent reversal of the decision unfolds amid ongoing reconciliation efforts involving Wike, Fubara, Assembly leadership, and local government chairmen across the state. Two weeks ago, Wike convened meetings with Fubara and other political figures associated with the All Progressives Congress (APC). These discussions were followed by another meeting on Sunday at the governor's residence in Port Harcourt.",
  "summary": "* As Wike-Fubara peace, reconciliation moves continue Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt The Rivers State House of Assembly has rescinded its decision to declare the seats of three pro-Governor Siminalayi",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}