Stakeholders from the Bayelsa East Senatorial District on Monday endorsed the incumbent Senator representing the district, Senator Benson Agadaga, for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Leading the stakeholders, former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Special Adviser to Governor Douye Diri on Political Affairs (III), Dr. Iti Orugbani, said the endorsement was based on the senator’s impressive performance and execution of projects across communities in the district.
Orugbani listed some of the projects executed by the federal lawmaker to include landing jetties, telecommunication masts, town halls, and other infrastructural developments. He noted that Agadaga’s performance had surpassed those of previous representatives of the oil-rich district.
Bayelsa East Senatorial District comprises Brass, Nembe, and Ogbia Local Government Areas of the state.
The governor’s aide also called on political stakeholders in the district to respect the 2022 zoning agreement, which guarantees a minimum of two terms for senators elected from the district. He stressed the need for political tolerance and peaceful coexistence ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to him, “In 2022, leaders and stakeholders across party lines in Bayelsa East met and reviewed the old single-term arrangement for senators from the district. It was agreed that beginning from 2023, any senator elected from the district should serve a minimum of two terms.
“In 2023, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, who was then the incumbent senator under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was given the party’s ticket for a second term, although he eventually lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Now that the state is APC-controlled and the district has an APC senator in the person of Benson Agadaga from Ogbia Local Government Area, why should he not also be allowed to complete a second tenure?
“The stakeholders changed the old political arrangement because it was no longer beneficial to the district. Since Ogbia Local Government Area produced the first senator under the zoning arrangement in 1999, I appeal that Ogbia should also be allowed to begin the new two-term zoning system.”
Also speaking, the leader of the support group, Agadema Women, Mrs. Owadaba Jokori, and the Information Officer of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Central Zone, Comrade Ikio, said the senator had performed creditably within the past three years.
They commended Agadaga for embarking on impactful infrastructural projects, especially the construction of landing jetties in several communities across the three local government areas, while praising stakeholders for supporting his second-term ambition.
Responding, Senator Agadaga thanked the stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and the growing endorsements from constituents and political supporters across party lines.
The lawmaker said he had continued to deliver democratic dividends through effective representation, lawmaking, oversight functions, constituency projects, and support for constituents.
Agadaga recalled that his emergence as senator came after persistent calls from leaders and groups within the district.
“I was serving as Chief of Staff to Governor Douye Diri when various groups from the zone approached me to contest the 2023 senatorial election,” he said.
“Since my election as senator, I have remained committed to delivering on my mandate through quality representation, oversight functions, project execution, and support for the people. I will continue to do even more if given the opportunity to serve a second term.”
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