Women’s Rights Group Defends Bayelsa’s Only Female LG Chairperson Amid Alleged Removal Plan

The Centre for Women’s Rights and Development Initiative (CWRDI) has condemned what it described as alleged political intimidation and plans to unconstitutionally suspend and remove the Chairperson of Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Hon. Mrs. Alice Allen Tangi, over her reported refusal to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Mrs. Marilyn Damian Okoro, the organisation alleged that the Bayelsa State Government, in collaboration with the State House of Assembly and the legislative arm of the Sagbama Local Government Council, is behind moves to remove the elected chairperson from office.

According to the group, Hon. Tangi is the only female local government chairperson currently serving in Bayelsa State and only the second woman to occupy the position since the return to democratic rule.

The organisation described the alleged plan as an attack on democratic principles, women’s political participation and local government autonomy.

CWRDI claimed that the reported move was politically motivated and linked to Hon. Tangi’s decision to remain in the PDP despite alleged pressure to join the APC.

The group further alleged that Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, and his deputy, Pastor Peter Akpe, were behind efforts to remove the council chairperson. It argued that compelling an elected official to change political parties violates the constitutional right to freedom of association.

“Political affiliation is a personal choice protected by the Constitution and should not be used as grounds for removing an elected public office holder,” the statement said.

The organisation also referenced the Supreme Court’s July 11, 2024 judgment on local government autonomy, arguing that elected local government chairpersons enjoy constitutional protection and cannot be arbitrarily removed by state governments.

It maintained that the judgment granting financial and administrative autonomy to the 774 local government councils prohibits state governments from dissolving or interfering with elected local government administrations.

The group questioned the rationale behind the alleged move to remove Hon. Tangi with only seven months remaining in her tenure, insisting that her decision to remain in the political party under which she was elected should be respected.

CWRDI called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to intervene and prevent any action it described as unconstitutional. It also urged security agencies to ensure the safety of the Sagbama council chairperson and protect her tenure in accordance with the law.

The organisation further appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure that constitutional provisions and the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy are upheld.

The group warned that any attempt to remove Hon. Tangi would undermine democratic governance, discourage women’s participation in politics and violate constitutional guarantees of freedom of association.

It also called on women across Bayelsa State and Nigeria to support the Sagbama council chairperson, describing the alleged action as part of a broader pattern of political intimidation against women in leadership.

The statement concluded by reaffirming the Centre’s support for Hon. Alice Allen Tangi and pledged to continue advocating for the protection of women’s political rights and democratic institutions.