Rivers Assembly annuls decision declaring seats of Oko-Jumbo, others vacant

Following letters of appeal sent to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Martin Amaewhule, the three of Mr. Timothy Oruibienimigha, Mr. Victor Oko-Jumbo, and Sokari Goodboy, representing Opobo/Nkoro, Bonny, and Ahoada West Constituencies, the House has annulled its earlier decision declaring their seats vacant.

In their separate letters of appeal read by the Speaker at Plenary yesterday, the trio apologised to the House, claiming that they failed to resume sitting because there was no correspondence intimating them that their suspension of 30th October, 2023 was lifted on the 20th December, 2023, after the presidential intervention.

Debating on the appeal, Members submitted in favour of the plea and urged the House to rescind the earlier decision.

Commenting on the letter, the Speaker, Mr. Amaewhule emphasized that irrespective of the emotion-laden tenor of their letters of appeal, the point to note is that investigation showed that they may not have received the correspondence as claimed; stating that the law does not feast on emotion.

The House had in compliance with the Constitution resolved to declare their seats vacant on 15th October, 2024, and notified the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct elections to fill the vacant seats, following their failures to attend and participate in legislative sittings.