By Samuel Oyadongha
Twenty four hours after the Court of Appeal reinstated the impeached Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State,Peremobowei Ebebi, the state weekly executive council meeting which could not hold Wednesday,  due to the ruling, sat yesterday, and passed a vote of confidence on the embattled Deputy Governor, Chief Werinipre Seibarugu.

Security was heightened around the Government House and other strategic locations in the capital city.

The leadership of the state House of Assembly, it was learnt had through its counsel shortly after the  ruling, approached the apex court to set aside the ruling,  which quashed the June impeachment of Peremobowei Ebebi as the state Deputy Governor.

The House, it was also learnt had filed a separate motion at the same Court of Appeal, which verdict caught many unaware for an order for stay of execution of its earlier order on the immediate reinstatement of Ebebi as Deputy Governor.

At its meeting, yesterday, presided by Governor Timipre Sylva, the State Executive Council, (SEC) threw its weight behind the incumbent Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu.

The meeting which lasted several hours, it was gathered exhaustively deliberated on the appeal court ruling,  though  the House had approached the court to protect its right as a legislative body of the state, it will only recognise Werinipre Seibarugu as Deputy Governor.

The state Governor was quoted by a source at the meeting as saying  that just as it was impossible to force a servant on an unwilling master, so also it will be difficult to force a Deputy Governor not willing to work in harmony with his master him.

The state Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Nathan Egba while confirming the development to newsmen said the action of the state House of Assembly was separate from the decision of the state executive council.

Egba noted that all members of the State Executive Council were in attendance except for the absence of the Commissioners for Works and Sports, Emmanuel Frank_Opigo and Opukiri Jones-Ere.

They duo were reported to have travelled out to the United States on official state assignment while Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu was also absent at the executive council meeting.

He said “the State Executive Council today (Wednesday) passed a vote of explicit confidence on the Deputy Governor, Werinipre Seibarugu. They declared that the only Deputy Governor they know is Seibarugu.”

Though the whereabouts of the reinstated Ebebi is unknown but his Kpansia home which some couples of month ago wore a deserted look yesterday witnessed large presence of people.

Associates of Ebebi however told Vanguard that they expecting him to return to the state triumphantly today (Friday).