By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa

Attempts by the present set of senators and members of the Federal House of Representatives from Bayelsa State to return to the National Assembly in 2015 may have been dashed following the decision of stakeholders in the state to apply zoning formula for elective positions in the state.

The stakeholders decision, it was learnt, has the backing of the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, an indigene of the state, Governor Seriake Dickson and his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd).

The affected Senators are Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West) and Senator Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East).

The Federal Representatives are Foingha Jephthah (Nembe-Brass), Henry Ofongo (Southern Ijaw), Warman Ogoriba (Yenagoa-Kolokuma-Opokuma), Dr.Stella Dorgu (Sagbama) and Nadu Karibo (Ogbia).

The stakeholders from the Bayelsa East Senatorial district were led by the state Deputy Governor,Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) and a close associate of President Goodluck Jonathan, King Amalate J.Turner.

The meeting of the Bayelsa East Senatorial district, attended by political leaders from the zone and convened by King A.J Turner, argued that the zone will implement the existing zoning arrangement in the interest of peace and equity.

The meeting, which was held at the Ogbi Brotherhood hall in Ogbia Local Council area of the state, it was reliably learnt, resolved that Senator Clever Ikisikpo, Hon.Foighan Jephthah and Hon. Nadu Karibo are not to be returned in 2015.

The stakeholders argued that the position held by Hon. Foighan Jephtah was zoned to rotate between Brass and Nembe people. Foighan is from Nembe and the position will be occupied by an indigene of Brass in 2015.

While the position of Hon. Nadu Karibo is to be rotated among Ogbia groups of Kolo,Oloibiri and Ayama.

Karibo is from Oloibiri group and the position is to be occupied by an Ayama indigene in 2015.

The Senate position of Bayelsa East being held by Senator Clever Ikisikpo, according to the leaders from the zone, is to be occupied by a Brass indigene in 2015. Ikisikpo is from Ogbia.