Bayelsa House of Assembly bows to pressure, swears in 3 opposition lawmakers

LEADERSHIP of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly has finally bowed to pressure to swear in three elected opposition lawmakers in the House.
Alfred Belemote (APGA, Brass 2), Gabriel Ogbara (ADC, Ogbia 2) and Gibson Munalayefa (Labour Party,Ogbia 2) had been declared winner by the Court of Appeal in  Port Harcourt and issued Certificate of Returns by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP)- controlled House refused to allow them take their seats.
The trio had petitioned the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and the Attorney General of the Federation over an impending break down of law and order in the state because of the decision of the House to disobey court orders.
Members of their constituencies irked by the development had wanted to stage a protest in Yenagoa to register their displeasure with the delay in the swearing in, but they were prevailed upon to shelve the protest so as not to compound the security problem in the state.
Investigations revealed that yesterday the leadership of the House met  behind closed door and agreed to swear in the three lawmakers in order not to incur the wrath of the people.
The Clerk, Mr. Aaron Timiye was directed to inform the three lawmakers that the swearing in would hold today at 10:00am
Kombowei Benson yesterday disclosed that the decision to delay the administration of oath of office on the elected opposition legislators was caused by faulty processes.
posted by Oscar Jonathan