By David Owei,Bayelsa
Bayelsa State Government has constituted a 7-member committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the leadership tussle in Anibeze community in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.

The committee, which is saddled with the responsibility of coming up with recommendations on the dispute over the Anibeze paramount ruler’s position, is also mandated to look into the Bayelsa State Chieftaincy Law as regards individuals who are qualified to be traditional rulers.

The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, set up the committee on Tuesday at a meeting with stakeholders of Anibeze community and relevant government officials, including the member representing Sagbama Constituency Three at the state House of Assembly, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, in Government House, Yenagoa.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, spelt out the committee’s terms of reference to include, ascertaining the emergence of the two contending chiefs claiming the paramount ruler position of Anibeze community and identity which of them meets the requirements of the Bayelsa State Chieftaincy Law.

He also charged the committee to confirm from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs whether it recognises any of the two chiefs and if the Ministry did, the committee should state why and how the person was recognised.

The deputy governor further directed the committee to liaise with the Anibeze community and initiate the machinery of conducting a new election into the office of the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC) and that of the youth president.

Following the community’s customary practice, the Committee is to also ensure that the position of the CDC chairman should be zoned to the quarters entitled to produce the next chairman.

According to the Deputy Governor, “the committee is to find out if Anibeze has a functional constitution”, adding that ‘if there is none, it should start the process of getting a new constitution to guide the affairs of the community.’

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who tasked the committee members to equally start the process of conducting election into the office of the youth president, directed them to submit their report within three weeks.

Meanwhile the Deputy Governor, has declared the removal of the current CDC chairman, Mr. Akeni Anthony and youth president, Mr David Ufuana, as illegal, and directed that they should serve out their remaining term before the conduct of fresh elections.

Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who admonished the people of Anibeze community against acts of lawlessness, stressed the need for them to maintain law and order in their community.

He maintained that nobody or group of persons has the right to ostracise any community member, pointing out that such acts violate the constitution of the country.

The Chairman of the Committee is Commissioner for Special Duties, Bayelsa West, Michael Magbisa, while Head of Exco, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mrs Mercy Alafuro, is to serve as Secretary.

Other members are, Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, High Chief Perekeme Bertola, Rural Development Authority Chairman of Toru Abubou, Mr Tarikebi Egbide, Councillor representing Ward 13, Sagbama Local Government, Mr Tari Afenfia, Governor’s Special Representative for Sagbama, Mr Tamunobere Oguoh and Technical Adviser to the governor on Boundary Matters, Vote Salem.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised political parties against their current resort to public campaigns ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying such actions are not only inappropriate but also a gross violation of the Electoral Act.

By Our Correspondent

Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’adua has formally resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), citing the party’s departure from its founding ideals and describing the current administration as “selfish and stinkingly corrupt.”

In a strongly worded resignation letter addressed to his colleagues and the Nigerian public, Yar’adua, a founding member of both the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the APC, accused the ruling party of betraying the masses and abandoning its original mission of service to the people.

“I can not remain in a party or support a government that unashamedly watches its citizens being maimed, intimidated, sexually-harassed, assaulted, killed and displaced… while the government, its leadership and organs… remain aloof and unconcerned,” Yar’adua stated.

He further criticized the economic policies of the APC-led government, labeling them “destructive” and targeted at the “welfare, dignity, lands and livelihood” of Nigerians . He likened those in power to “urban bandits” and declared his intention to work with other like-minded individuals to democratically oust the current administration.

His exit marks a significant development in Katsina State politics and could trigger more defections, especially among disillusioned party loyalists.

Yar’adua concluded his statement with a call to action: “I, therefore, have no option other than to join hands with like-minds to democratically remove this bad, selfish and stinkingly corrupt administration.”