Bayelsa is located in Nigeria’s South-South geo-political zone. Situated also in the oil and gas-rich Niger Delta Region of the country, the state has three Senators and five members in the House of Representatives.
This scorecard appraises bills sponsorship by federal lawmakers from Bayelsa State in the last three years of the Ninth National Assembly (2019 – 2022)
SENATE’S SCORECARD
Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo
With seven bills to his credit, Senator Degi-Eremienyo takes the lead among lawmakers in the Red Chamber from the state in terms of Bills Sponsorship. In his kitty of legislation is the bill seeking to establish the National Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre Oloibiri, which has passed first reading.
The Bayelsa East lawmaker is the only Senator from the state elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In 2020, he had previously made attempts to switch from the legislative arm to the Bayelsa Government House as Deputy to the Governor-Elect, David Lyon, but the duo had their election nullified on the eve of his inauguration due to inconsistencies in the Senator’s credentials.
Senator Henry Seriake Dickson
Representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, the two-time Governor of the state has sponsored just one bill in the period under review (2019 – 2022).
A former member of the House of Representatives before becoming governor, he replaced incumbent Governor Duoye Diri in the Red Chamber.
Senator Moses Cleopas
A former State Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Moses Cleopas is the only Senator from the State without a bill to his name in the Ninth National Assembly.
Senator Cleopas who was elected to the legislative chamber on December 5 2020, lost the opportunity to stage a return to the Senate in 2023 after losing the Bayelsa Central Senatorial primaries in May 2022. The first-term lawmaker lost the ticket to the Rt Hon. Konbowei Benson; a two-time Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and immediate past Secretary to the Bayelsa Government.
READ ALSO: Rep Monguno leads Borno Bills Chart with 53 Bills | National Assembly Scorecard
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SCORECARD
Agbedi Frederick Yeitiemone
The Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency representative blazes the trail among lawmakers in the state with eight bills, including that seeking the establishment of the National Polytechnics Regulatory Commission, which is awaiting second reading.
Obua Azibapu Fred
Representing Ogbia Federal Constituency, home of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the PDP lawmaker has, in the last three years sponsored four bills.
Preye Influence Goodluck
A two-time State House of Assembly Candidate, the lawmaker representing Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency has in the last three years sponsored two bills in the Ninth National Assembly.
The grassroots politician had previously served as Special Adviser on Oil and Gas to the then Executive Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council in 2013, and later as a member of the Caretaker Committee for Apoi/Olodiama Local Government Council.
Stephen Sinikiem Azaiki
Representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma Opokuma Federal Constituency, the former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government is the only other federal lawmaker from the state with just one bill to his name in the period under review.
Rep. Azaiki who holds the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and has previously been a governorship hopeful in the state
Sunny Israeli Goli
The Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency representative is the only lawmaker in the Ninth House of Representatives from the State yet to sponsor any bill since being elected in 2019.
The former Special Adviser to the Bayelsa Government on Youth Matters has previously served as a former member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
READ ALSO: Senator Aduda increases bill tally by 3 | The National Assembly Scorecard
Editor’s Note: OrderPaper’s appraisal of lawmakers in the core areas of lawmaking is without prejudice to the lawmaker’s performance in the areas of oversight and representation.
