Chief Whip, Others Lose Seats In Bayelsa Assembly Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa says the Chief Whip of the state House of Assembly and member representing Yenagoa Constituency 2, Mrs Ebiwou Koku-Obiyai lost her re-election bid to the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr  Amakoromo Waikumo who polled 4971 votes.
Other incumbent members of the House who lost their return bid include, the member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 4, Barr. Macdonald Igbadwei, and Hon. Ebi Ben Ololo, representing Nembe Constituency 1, respectively.
While Ben Ololo lost to the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr George Oteigbanyo who got 2,928 votes, Igbadwei on the other hand lost to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ben Selekaye Victor who garnered 5,230 votes.
However, Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), for Brass constituency 3, Abraham Ingobere, his deputy, Michael Ogbere, who is also member representing Ekeremor Constituency 3, and candidate of the PDP are among serving members of the state legislature who won their various re-election bids in the House of Assembly polls conducted last Saturday.
Ingobere, a serving third termer, according to results made available to newsmen by Mr Wilfred Ifogah, Director Voter Education Programme (VEP) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Bayelsa, defeated his opponents having polled 5,973 votes.
The electoral umpire also noted that the Deputy Speaker of the House, Michael Ogbere, a serving second termer had also garnered 3,912 votes to defeat his opponents.
According to INEC, the Leader of the State House of Assembly, and member representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2, Monday-Bubou Edwin Obolo, also emerged winner, polling 6,956 votes to defeat candidates of other parties.
Also declared winners were: Honourables, Teddy Elemeforo — PDP, Yenagoa Constituency 3; God bless Oyinke— PDP, Sagbama Constituency 1; Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown— PDP, Sagbama Constituency 3; Charles Daniel—PDP, Brass Constituency 1; Mitin Living— PDP, Ekeremor Constituency 2; and Edward Irigha Brigidi—APC, Nembe Constituency 2.
Other winners were, Col. Bernerd Sunday Kenebai (rtd) — PDP, Sagbama Constituency 2; Pamoh Werinipre—PDP, Kolokuma/ Opokuma Constituency 1; Douglas Sampson—APC, Nembe Constituency 3; Wisdom Fafi—PDP, Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency 2; Felix Bonny Ayah—PDP, Southern Ijaw Constituency 1; Timinyo Omubo-Agala —APC, Brass Constituency 2; and Moses Marlon — PDP, Southern Ijaw Constituency 3.
Those who were elected into the House for the first time include: Ayibanengiyefa Egba— PDP, Yenagoa Constituency 1; Richard Ibegu—PDP, Ogbia Constituency 1; as well as a former member making a return, Gabriel Michael Ogbara of the PDP for Ogbia Constituency 3.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that elections were not held for Ogbia Constituency 2 due to attack on the INEC Registration Area Centres (RACs) across the constituency by suspected hoodlums who allegedly burnt BVAS and other electoral materials on the eve of the elections.
“On the eve of the elections, a group suppected to be hoodlums attacked INEC RACs in Ogbia Constituency 2 and burnt off the BVAS and other materials meant for the conduct of the House of Assembly elections in the constituency, so the polls couldn’t take place. And as we speak, we don’t know yet when election for that constituency would hold”, the VEP,  state office of the INEC, Mr Wilfred Ifogah said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa