Legislators Lose Seats In Bayelsa Over Defection

The seats of the four members of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, who defected from the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) have been declared vacant.
The defectors, whose seats were declared vacant are: Fini Angaye (Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency 2); Alfred Egba, (Yenagoa constituency 1); Victor Prezi (Ekeremor Constituency 3) and Azibola Omekwe (Ogbia constituency 1), which is  President Goodluck Jonathan’s constituency.
The Speaker of the House, Kombowei Benson, who disclosed this at the floor of the House, said the decision to declare the seats vacant was based on the provision of Section 109 (1) of the Constitution.
The defectors  had attributed their decision to the internal wrangling in the PDP, which led to the emergence of two factions.
Already, the state Governor, Seriake Dickson, believed to have masterminded the action, has commended the lawmakers for  taking a step in the right direction.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the action of the state legislature was constitutional and would also instill party discipline and sanitise the polity.
He condemned changing of parties at will by politicians, saying it was no longer acceptable and practicable in a thriving democracy.
“The assembly has by this singular act set the pace and shown the direction of the new PDP in the state, where party discipline and loyalty, must be the overriding principle and factor for all members, going forward”, the statement said.