IYC faults Bayelsa Assembly’s refusal to swear-in new members

Apparently worried by the continued refusal by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, (BYHSA) to swear in three opposition members-elect, the umbrella body of the Ijaw youths from the nine states of the Niger Delta, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), on Tuesday described as “unfair” and “unconstitutional” the refusal in accordance to the ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, describing the action of the Speaker as a violation of his oath of office.

According to the IYC, though preliminary investigation had shown that the refusal to swear in the three opposition legislators was due to party rivalry and ego, the continued refusal of the State Assembly to swear in the three opposition members was a sign of cowardice and had brought them to public ridicule.

The President of the IYC, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, argued, in Yenagoa, that the action of the State Assembly under the Speaker, Kombowei Benson, had violated the rights of the affected constituent to fair representation. “We call on the State Assembly, as a matter of urgency, to swear in the affected legislators. It is an injustice against the legislators and the constituent they represent.”