A group, All Progressives Congress Grassroots Mobilisation Sagbama/Ekeremor has kicked against the decision of a former Deputy Governor, Peremobowei Ebebi, to contest the Bayelsa West Senatorial District by-election.
The group made this known on Wednesday at a news conference it organised in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Bayelsa West Senatorial District seat became vacant following the inauguration of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo as Deputy Governor.
Top political stakeholders from the senatorial district had at a political summit held in July decided that Ekeremor people should not contest the vacant position.
The decision was in adherence to the existing agreement on power rotation since the area already produced the incumbent House of Representatives member.
NAN recalls that political leaders of Sagbama and Ekeremor issued a joint statement where it was stated that Sagbama should complete the tenure of Ewhrudjakpo.
The move was for an Ekeremor person to start a fresh tenure in the spirit of the age long agreement on power sharing or rotation in the area.
According to the group, political leaders and stakeholders of the senatorial district are uncomfortable with the decision of the former Deputy Governor.
The group noted that it violated an unwritten agreement on power rotation between Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas that make up the two local government areas in the district.
The group expressed displeasure at the idea that Ebebi, from Ekeremor, would be contesting the election to go to the Senate when Rep. Fred Agbedi, also from Ekeremor, is in the House of Representatives.
The Chairman, APC Mobilisation Group, Ibide Brown, condemned in strong terms the decision of Ebebi or any other person from Ekeremor to contest in the senatorial election.
He said that Ekeremor had completed its own eight years through Heneiken Lokpobiri, who represented the Sagbama/Ekeremor at the Senate.
Hitler Moses, Spokesperson of the group, said the leader of the APC in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, could not have given the ticket to anyone from Ekeremor, for the purpose of the age long agreement.
Moses said stakeholders in the local government area would resist any unconscionable assault on the zoning arrangement.
He said: “No candidate can undermine the tenets of the zoning arrangement and expect us to work for him.
“We have resolved not to work for any candidate from Ekeremor because it is wrong.
“The candidate of APC in the senatorial by-election should be from Sagbama since Mr. Fred Agbedi is in the House of Representatives now.
“We cannot deviate from the zoning arrangement between Sagbama and Ekeremor.
“The zoning arrangement must be honoured for the sake of posterity and I expect my party, the APC, to do so.
“We cannot just go against the wishes of the people.”
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