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Bayelsa State Assembly Passes Child Rights Bill, Swears In 3 Opposition Members

The new House members are Alfred Belemote (All Progressives Grand Alliance - Brass 2), Gabriel Ogbara (African Democratic Congress - Ogbia 2) and Gibson Munalayefa (Labour Party - Ogbia 3).

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly passed the Child Rights Bill after the third reading on Thursday and swore in three opposition members who secured electoral victory to the House through the courts.

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Kombowei Benson

Twenty-one out of the twenty-four seats at the Assembly are currently being occupied by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.

House Leader Peter Akpe (PDP - Sagbama 1) moved for the third reading of the bill and was seconded by Parkinson Mac Manuel  (PDP - Yenagoa 1).

Speaking shortly after passage of the bill, Konbowei Benson, Speaker of the Assembly, noted that the House had passed the bill in its third session but regretted that the bill was not signed into law by Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson.

He exonerated the House for the delayed passage of the bill and expressed appreciation to civil society advocates and other stakeholders who pushed for the bill.

In another development, the Speaker administered the oath of allegiance and oath of membership of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly for the three opposition members, who are now officially sworn in to the House.

The new House members are Alfred Belemote (All Progressives Grand Alliance - Brass 2), Gabriel Ogbara (African Democratic Congress - Ogbia 2) and Gibson Munalayefa (Labour Party - Ogbia 3).

Their swearing in to the Assembly came three months after they secured victories at the Court of Appeal.

The Speaker explained that the delay was caused by the inability of the members to submit their original documents to the House in line with the rules of the House.

"The resort to all forms of antics including allegations against the governor of Bayelsa State in the media as being behind your non-swearing-in was uncalled for. Nobody was out to victimize you. Even as a Speaker I lost my seat for two months due to election litigation,” Mr. Benson said.

"Until today, the original documents had not been submitted and I could not bow to pressure in breach of the rules and procedures of the House which I swore to protect.”

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Politics