From Amgbare Prince, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has constituted a five-member committee to investigate alleged irregularities threatening a peaceful, free, and fair election into the state chapter of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo announced the decision on Tuesday during an expanded stakeholders’ meeting with the state TUC executive, affiliate unions, and senior government officials at Government House, Yenagoa.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, Senator Ewhrudjakpo appealed to the National Executive Council of the TUC, led by Comrade Festus Osifo, to suspend the state chapter election earlier scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2025, pending the resolution of all contentious issues.
He maintained that while the state government has no preferred candidate for the position of state chairman, it has a duty to ensure peace, equity, fairness, and justice prevail in the electoral process.
The committee, chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr Irorodamie Komonibo, has been directed to immediately obtain and study the TUC constitution, the electoral guidelines used in recent state congresses in Ekiti, Ogun, Kebbi, and other states, as well as the three different guidelines reportedly issued by the national body for the Bayelsa election.
Other members of the committee are: Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Comrade Gowon Toruyouyei; Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Mr Saturday Odoko; Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai; and Technical Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Mr Perekeme Richard.
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Speaking at the meeting, the Head of Service, Dr Wisdom Ebiye Sawyer, and Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy Mrs Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, warned that the government would not allow any action capable of causing industrial unrest in the state.
Mrs Koku-Obiyai, a former Bayelsa NLC chairman, urged the TUC national leadership to adopt uniform electoral guidelines across all states to avoid accusations of bias.
The state TUC Chairman, Dr Laye Julius, commended the government’s intervention and appealed for continued support to ensure the election holds without external interference.
Other labour leaders, including the state Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Andabai Sonia; TUC State Secretary, Mr Amatoru Bright; Financial Secretary, Mr Abah Dressman; ELECO Chairman, Mr Anengimo Jonah; and chairmanship aspirant, Mr Igbudu Pedro, also addressed the meeting, expressing hope that the issues would be resolved speedily.
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