Two Deputy Governors Surface in Jonathan's Home State

Daily Trust

21 Feb 2011

Two Deputy Governors Surface in Jonathan's Home State

Port Harcourt — At the moment, there are 'two deputy governors' in Bayelsa, home state of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan with the stage getting set for a bigger drama.

Deputy governor-1 is Werinipre Seibarugu, recognised by Governor Timipre Sylva and currently occupying office in Yenogoa while Deputy governor-2 is Peremobowei Ebebi, recognised by the court of appeal which vacated his impeachment last week and ordered that he be reinstated immediately.

Sylva has already said he will not recognise Ebebi, in fact he presided over a state executive council meeting last week and a resolution was reached that Seibarugu remains the deputy governor-'no shaking'. Armed by that support, Seibarugu himself reportedly said he remained the deputy governor of Bayelsa.

Ebebi on the other hand has through his legal team, served copies of the appeal court order on respective officials of the state government, preparing grounds for his return to office.

Interestingly, Ebebi has since crossed over to the Labour Party from the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] to pitch tent with Mr. Timi Alaibe, governorship candidate of the LP in Bayelsa and former adviser to President Jonathan on Niger Delta matters.

It appears the twin deputy governors' battle is way beyond Ebebi and Seibarugu; it is indeed a fight between Sylva and Alaibe ahead of the governorship elections in April.