PDP Adopts ‘Merit System’ For Bayelsa East Senate Primaries From 2035

Leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa East Senatorial District of Bayelsa State have agreed to end the long-standing zoning arrangement for the district’s Senate seat after the 2031 elections, declaring that future candidates would emerge based on merit, competence and performance.

The decision was part of resolutions reached at a strategic stakeholders’ meeting involving party leaders from Ogbia, Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas of the State held at the Yenagoa residence of the Bayelsa State PDP chairman, Hon. Barr. Alabh George Turnah.

The meeting, presided over by the Bayelsa East PDP Vice Chairman, Hon. Andy West Majors, also resolved that the party’s 2027 senatorial ticket should be zoned to Brass Constituency II, while Nembe Constituency II would produce the candidate in 2031.

However, the major highlight of the meeting was the agreement that zoning would completely end from 2035, with party leaders insisting that future aspirants must emerge through their capacity to deliver quality representation rather than rotational considerations.

Majors explained that the arrangement was designed to ensure fairness and allow every constituency in the senatorial district to produce a Senator before the transition to an open contest based on merit.

He said by 2031, all state constituencies within Bayelsa East would have produced at least one Senator under the rotational arrangement that has existed since 1999.

According to him, “The decision marks the beginning of a new political era anchored on merit, practical development, and quality representation capable of advancing the collective interest of the people of Bayelsa East Senatorial District.”

The stakeholders recalled that the district first produced Senator Melford Okilo from Ogbia Constituency I, followed by Senator Inatimi Spiff from Brass Constituency I and Senator Nimi Barigha Amange from Nembe Constituency I.

The rotation later returned to Ogbia through Senator Clever Ikisikpo of Ogbia Constituency III before moving to Brass with Senator Ben Murray-Bruce of Brass Constituency III and then to Nembe through Senator Degi Ereminyo of Nembe Constituency III.

The current senator representing Bayelsa East, Senator Benson Agadaga, is from Ogbia Constituency II, prompting stakeholders to insist that fairness demanded that Brass Constituency II should produce the next PDP candidate for the 2027 election.

Political observers believed the latest decision could significantly reshape political alignments in Bayelsa East ahead of the 2027 elections, especially with the planned transition from zoning to a merit-based system after 2031 elections,

The stakeholders also pledged continued support for the leadership of the Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, Hon. Barr. Alabh George Turnah, commending him for promoting unity, inclusiveness and stability within the opposition party.