Arrest Of Bayelsa House Of Assembly Minority Leader Sparks Confusion

  • Post category:Politics

The arrest of Edward Irigha-Brigidi, the Minority Leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly and representative of Nembe Constituency 2, has caused confusion in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State. Irigha-Brigidi was reportedly apprehended by SWAT operatives from Abuja in Azikoro town, a suburb of Yenagoa. The arrest is said to be in response to a petition alleging his involvement in the crisis affecting the Nembe-Bassambiri Kingdom. He is currently being held at the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.

Sources suggest that the arrest of Irigha-Brigidi may have been orchestrated by influential members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. This alleged action is believed to be a result of his decision to align with the disgruntled youths of Nembe-Bassambiri against certain party leaders. The ongoing crisis in Nembe-Bassambiri has had negative effects on the party’s performance in the recent State and National Assembly elections in Bayelsa East Senatorial District, where Chief Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and APC member, hails from.

Irigha-Brigidi’s victory in the elections was reportedly aided by his opposition to alleged oppressive and violent actions by some party leaders in Nembe-Bassambiri. He further fueled tensions by refusing to attend the 59th birthday celebration of a prominent party leader in Yenagoa on Friday. However, the state police command has remained silent regarding the details of the arrest.

Sources claim that the timely intervention of the state governor, Douye Diri, prevented the SWAT team from transporting the embattled lawmaker to Abuja. The circumstances surrounding Irigha-Brigidi’s arrest and the ongoing crisis in Nembe-Bassambiri highlight the internal conflicts within the APC in Bayelsa State.

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