Tension in Bayelsa over refusal to swear in lawmakers-elect

The refusal of Bayelsa State House of Assembly Speaker Kombowei Benson to swear in three members elected on the platform of opposition parties is threatening security in the state.

Benson has refused to administer oaths on Watson Belemote, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), representing Brass 2; Gibson Munalayefa, of the Labour Party (LP) for Ogbia 2 and Gabriel Ogbara, of African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Ogbia 3.

They were declared winners four months ago by the Appeal Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

But the Assembly’s leadership, dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ignored them and hurriedly sworn in their party members, who won their rerun in March.

The youths were also said to be preparing to block entrance to the Government House and disrupt the activities of Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration.

The constituencies were said to be angry with Dickson, who was accused of conspiring with the Assembly’s leadership to frustrate the swearing in of the members-elect.

It was learnt the Speaker, whose rerun was supported by the governor, was helpless.