By John Ovie, YENAGOA
There is rising political tension in the Bayelsa East Senatorial District ahead of the 2027 general election following a contentious issue of rotating the senatorial seat amongst the three Local Government areas, Ogbia, Nembe and Brass, that made up the district.
The senatorial seat is currently being occupied by Senator Benson Agadaga from Ogbia LGA who was elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Agadaga who took over from Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Erimienyo from Nembe local council area has already been screened by the APC aspirants screening committee for the party’s forthcoming primary elections, an indication that he has nursed the ambition to return to the red chamber of the national assembly, a feat that had not been achieved by successive senators in the district since 1999.
However, Agadaga’s second term bid has been met with stiff opposition from constituents of the senatorial zone, who say the gentleman’s zoning arrangement that had existed since 1999 when democracy returned to the country must not be flouted under any guise.
On Sunday, constituents of the district made up of Nembe, Brass, and Ogbia local government areas, staged a peaceful protest in Yenagoa, the state capital to demand what they termed “justice and fairness” in the zoning of the senatorial seat, emphasizing that it is the turn of Brass to produce the next senator.
The protesters carrying placards bearing different inscriptions, called on leaders of the APC to uphold what they described as the district’s long-standing single-term zoning arrangement which, according to them, has served as the foundation of unity, mutual respect and political balance among the three local government areas.
Speaking at the end of the protest, former national Vice President, Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council, Comrade Quincy Mac-Odo and Mr. Olerua John-Salvation reiterated that the arrangement had been in place since 1999 and warned against attempt to abandon the unwritten deal for political convenience.
Also speaking, president of the Bayelsa Comrade Family, Timilah Austine, president, Nembe Unity Forum, Mr. Lante Desmond-Taria, and Mrs. Gift Esere, said they took their protest to the screening centre to appeal to members of the screening committee to put aside sentiments and listen to the voice of the people of the constituency and do the right thing.
Appealing to the protest, federal commissioner representing Bayelsa State at the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission and a member of the screening committee, Mrs. Helen Inafa-Bob, assured that the committee would ensure the right thing is done and no local government area marginalized.
