PDP to end zoning in Bayelsa East by 2031

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has fixed 2035 to end the current zoning arrangement in Bayelsa East Senatorial District comprising Brass, Nembe and Ogbia local government areas.

The PDP, as party in power in Bayelsa State in 1999, had used the zoning arrangement effectively in the senatorial district until now, even as the majority of the members decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The senatorial district has been represented in the upper chamber of the National Assembly by Melford Okilo, first civilian governor of old Rivers State, from 1999 to 2003.

He was followed by late Inatimi Rufus-Spiff (2003-2007), Nimi Barigha-Amange (2007-2011), Clever Ikisikpo (2011-2015), Ben Murray-Bruce (2015-2019), Degi Eremienyo (2019-2023) and now Benson Agadaga (2023).

Eremienyo won the 2023 Senate election under the APC while the PDP was in sway in Bayelsa State until last year’s defection when the political bigwigs including Agadaga, the incumbent senator.

However, the PDP has resolved that after the 2027 ticket zoned to Brass Constituency II and 2031 ticket zoned to Nembe Constituency II, all such zoning arrangements will end from 2035.

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A statement by Kelvin Loveday-Egbo, media assistant to George Turnah, chairman, PDP, Bayelsa State, said that the move is aimed at “deepening justice, equity, fairness, and political inclusion within the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.”

The statement said that the resolution was reached during a strategic meeting of the party leaders in Yenagoa presided by Andy West Majors, the vice chairman of Bayelsa East Senatorial District of the party.

It said that party leaders and stakeholders from Ogbia, Nembe, and Brass local government areas “unanimously resolved to zone the party’s 2027 Senatorial ticket to Brass Constituency II and the 2031 ticket to Nembe Constituency II for a single four-year term, respectively.”

The stakeholders said that the decision was taken in the overall interest of peace, unity, inclusion, and balanced political representation across the senatorial district.

They noted that by 2031, all the state constituencies within the senatorial district would have effectively produced a senator under the existing rotational arrangement.

According to them, “the senate seat rotation within the district has followed a stable and divinely guided progression since 1999, beginning with Senator Melford Okilo from Ogbia Constituency I, followed by Senator Inatimi Spiff of Brass Constituency I, and Senator Nimi Barigha Amange of Nembe Constituency I.

“The rotation later returned to Ogbia with Senator Clever Ikisikpo of Ogbia Constituency III, then moved to Brass through Senator Ben Murray-Bruce of Brass Constituency III, and subsequently to Nembe with Senator Degi Ereminyo of Nembe Constituency III. The current occupant of the seat, Senator Benson Agadaga, is from Ogbia Constituency II.”

They maintained that in line with the principles of justice, equity, and fairness, it was only proper for Brass Constituency II to produce the party’s senatorial candidate in 2027, while Nembe Constituency II took its turn in 2031.

They further resolved that beginning from 2035, the PDP ticket shall no longer be subjected to zoning or rotation, but would be based on competence, performance, capacity, and the ability to provide effective representation.

The decision, they said, signaled “the beginning of a new political era anchored on merit, practical development, and quality representation capable of advancing the collective interest of the people of Bayelsa East Senatorial District.”