Stakeholders in Bayelsa East Senatorial District have staged a protest in Yenagoa, insisting that the existing zoning arrangement for the senatorial seat must be upheld ahead of the forthcoming political processes in the state.
The protesters, who marched from the NUJ Press Centre along Azikoro Road through the Ekeki axis of the state capital, chanted solidarity songs while calling for fairness, equity, and respect for the established political rotation system in the district.
The demonstration comes ahead of the scheduled screening of National Assembly aspirants by the Bayelsa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), amid concerns over alleged attempts to alter the long-standing zoning formula.
It would be recalled that Senator Benson Agadaga, who defected to the APC alongside Governor Douye Diri, currently represents Bayelsa East in the Senate.
Speaking during the protest, the Convener of the Bayelsa-East Forum, Mr. Qunincy Mac-Odo, said the existing zoning arrangement should not be discarded, stressing that it has ensured balance and stability in the district’s political representation.
“Bayelsa-East Senatorial District is made up of Ogbia, Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas,” he said.
“A zoning format has been in existence since 1999. This format should be followed to promote equity and fairness.”
He further explained that under the arrangement, Ogbia has produced three senators, while Nembe and Brass have each produced two senators, adding that it was now the turn of Brass to produce the next senator.
“It is now the turn of Brass to produce the senator to represent the district. This will promote peace, equity and fairness,” he said.
Mac-Odo, who is a former National Vice President of the Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council, urged the APC leadership in Bayelsa to respect the existing political understanding among the constituent communities.
“As a people, we have a stake within the system. The existing zoning format has produced seven senators, and this has kept the district peaceful and united,” he said.
“Anything contrary will be opposed vehemently because the will of the people should be honoured.”
Also speaking, a community leader from Ogbia, Chief Olerua Salvation, said maintaining the zoning arrangement was key to sustaining inclusion and justice within the district.
“In Bayelsa East Senatorial District we have a zoning formula that is existing. Let’s honour that arrangement.
“We don’t want somebody to truncate the peace that we are having in our senatorial district,” he said.
