As the 2027 general elections draw near, Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has implored all to abide by the zoning principle where it exists in line with the directive in the All Progressives Congress (APC), which said that where consensus fails, the party would conduct direct primaries.

This was as has advised politicians in the state to pursue their ambition within stipulated laws as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 elections.

Governor Diri also implored politicians to exercise restraint during the political season as politics, he said, was a means to serve the people and not for self-aggrandisement.

He gave the admonition on Wednesday during the weekly state executive council meeting inside the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Yenagoa,

A statement by Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, added that the governor assured that no aspirant would be disenfranchised.

The statement reads: “We are in the political season, and I like the way it is going because nobody is forcing anyone.

“For some obvious reasons, such as zoning, we spoke to some people and advised that where you have, for instance, a House of Assembly member that has served just a term, he should be allowed to return except otherwise. If there is no consensus, the party has directed that we have direct primaries.

“I call on politicians to exercise restraint and pursue their ambitions based on existing rules and within the ambit of the law.”

During the meeting, various awards won by the state in different sectors were presented.

The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, presented to the governor an award of exceptional leadership and outstanding contribution to healthcare development, public service and human capital advancement in the health sector, received from nurses in Commonwealth countries.

Prof. Brisibe said the award was in recognition of the state’s outstanding performance in the health sector, which included the upgrading of the School of Nursing Sciences to a College of Nursing Sciences as well as the completion of a 250-capacity ICT centre at the College of Nursing and Midwifery, Tombia.

The Health Commissioner added that the body also took note of the state government’s engagement of 200 midwives and nurses in the primary healthcare sector, as well as welfare and professional development benefits for nurses.

He stated that the governor was also honoured by the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, for his exceptional leadership and outstanding contribution to healthcare development, public service and human capital development in the sector, even from his days as a legislator in the National Assembly.

The Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Faith Izibenua-Zibs, also presented an “Appreciation of Service Award” in recognition of the governor’s visionary leadership and pioneering role in the establishment of the first subnational Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Nigeria by the Institute of Geosciences and Environmental Management.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Biriyai Dambo (SAN), equally presented an Environmental Rights Governance Award by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Human Rights Institute in collaboration with “Call A Lawyer.”

Dambo said the award was in appreciation of the governor’s visionary leadership and strides in good governance and support for human rights in Bayelsa State.

Governor Diri expressed appreciation to the various organisations for the awards, which he noted were not only for him but for the administration as a whole.

His words: “As I always say, it is our awards and all of us have done very well. I think we can all raise our heads up that we are not violating human rights in Bayelsa.

“For the health sector awards, again, it is a plus to our government and our state for doing the needful to give health its due attention, and I believe that we will not rest on our laurels as we continue to allocate resources to that sector.

“Also, we are a marine people, and we have no reason not to create the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as our livelihood before now was all in the marine sector. So, I thought we must do the needful, particularly now that the Federal Government is giving us recognition.”