Zoning divides Bayelsa PDP

The move by some leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa state to introduce a zoning arrangement ahead of the party primaries is creat­ing disaffection within the state chapter of the party.
Daily Sun checks revealed that at a stakeholders meeting held last week in Sagbama to endorse President Good­luck Jonathan and Governor Seriake Dickson, for 2015 presidential and 2016 Bay­elsa governorship elections respectively, some prominent members, led by pioneer chairman of the party in the state, Charles Dorgu, further resolved to zone the National Assembly slots of the party.

With the new arrangement, the three senators and five House of Representatives members from the state in the National Assembly had been zoned out of the 2015 race.
With the new zoning, it was gathered, Sagbama would now produce the sen­ators for two terms of four years and Ekeremor would produce the House of Repre­sentatives members, also for two terms.
Those affected by the pro­nouncement, which had re­portedly polarised the party in Bayelsa State into pro-zoning and anti-zoning fac­tions, are Senators Emmanu­el Paulker (Bayelsa Central), Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayel­sa West) and Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East) in the upper legislative chamber. Those in the House of Representatives are Foingha Jephthah (Nem­be/Brass), Henry Ofongo (Southern Ijaw), Warman Ogoriba (Yenegoa/Kolo­kuma-Opokuma), Dr. Stella Dorgu (Sagbama/Ekeremor) and Nadu Karibo (Ogbia).
Further investigation by Daily Sun revealed that those peeved by the zoning proc­lamation operating under the aegis of Concerned Elders and Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the Ekeremor and Sag­bama areas of Bayelsa West Senatorial District had kicked against the ‘purported’ zon­ing of the National Assembly seats in the area.
The concerned elders and leaders described as baseless, the alleged zoning of Nation­al Assembly seats in the area, insisting that Senator Lokpo­biri be allowed to continue in the Senate.
The leader of the group in Bayelsa West Senato­rial District, Chief Dennis Daunemighan, in a state­ment, warned that experience should not be sacrificed on the altar of zoning.
The meeting, which had Chief Abeke Ebikake, Hon Stephen Ogullah, Fitzgerald Olorogun, Torpedo Ama­nanaghan, Bekekeme Dick, Jenakumao Alex, Arimebofa R. F., among others, in at­tendance, observed that “the representative of Bayelsa West at the National Assem­bly should be dictated by cognate experience, proven track record of competence, capacity to attract infrastruc­ture development and bring about robust perspective to help stabilise the polity at this crucial period of our national history.”
They reportedly resolved that Lokpobiri should retain his position at the Senate and continue his good work in supporting President Good­luck Jonathan and attracting infrastructure development to the area