Agbedi Yeitiemone

Frederick Yeitiemone Agbedi (born February 20, 1960) is an educationist and politician from Nigeria’s oil-rich south-south state of Bayelsa. He is one of the founding fathers of Bayelsa State.

He was a member of a high-powered delegation of Ijaws that lobbied the Nbanefo Panel for state creation during regional agitations for additional states in Nigeria. Agbedi, a ranking member of the Nigeria federal House of Representatives, represents Sagbama/Ek.

Agbedi served as Bayelsa State chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during the term of Goodluck Jonathan as Governor of the state until 2007.

In 2011 and 2019, Agbedi made unsuccessful attempts to be the governor of oil-rich Bayelsa State, nicknamed ‘The Creek Haven’.

Born in Aghoro, a coastal community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa, Agbedi attended State School, Aghoro, and Oproza Grammar School, Patani for primary and secondary education.

He earned a Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in English and History from College of Education, Warri, Delta State, and holds a Bachelor of Education (B. Ed) in English from the University of Port Harcourt. He also has a Master’s (M. Sc) in Public Administration from the University of Abuja.

As a professional teacher, Agbedi excelled in his career, rising to higher ranks such as Confidential Secretary to the Secretary, Local Teaching Service Committee, and Pay Officer.

He was a member of the Adhoc Committee on Verification of Primary/Post-Primary School Teachers and Confidential Secretary to the Military Panel on Screening and Verification of staff of Burutu LGA, Delta State.

Agbedi left public service for private business in the mid-1980s. He became politically active after joining the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1992, becoming Secretary of the party in his local council of Ekeremor.

After the military takeover in 1993, NRC was proscribed. In 1998, Agbedi joined the newly registered United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in preparation for the return to democratic rule in 1999.

He was a member of the UNCP screening committee for the Bayelsa state assembly and ran for UNCP nomination to run for the Bayelsa-West Senatorial District but lost, emerging first runner-up.

Later, Agbedi joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), serving in various capacities, including Special Assistant to the Chairman of the PDP Computerized Membership Registration Committee in Bayelsa State in 2001.

He was Secretary of the PDP National Committee on Supervising, Monitoring, and Conduct of Congresses/Conventions in Abia State in 2001. In 2002, Agbedi contested the PDP primary election for the Bayelsa West Senatorial District but lost.

In 2007, Governor Goodluck Jonathan, then Vice President elect, appointed Agbedi to the Transition Committee on Handover of Power in Bayelsa State to Governor Timipre Sylva.

Agbedi was elected Chairman of Bayelsa State PDP during the administration of Governor Goodluck Jonathan. He led the PDP governorship campaign that brought Timipre Sylva to power in 2007.

However, Agbedi fell out with Governor Sylva and resigned his PDP chairmanship position after criticizing Sylva’s government for failing. Despite this, PDP leaders in the state, including then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, prevailed on Agbedi to remain in his position.

In 2008, Governor Sylva instigated a crisis in the party, leading to the removal of Agbedi from office as Bayelsa State PDP Chairman in February that year.

Agbedi was Director General of Siriake Dickson’s governorship campaign for his first and second term campaigns in 2012 and 2015. Agbedi led Dickson and PDP to victory in both elections.

In the 2012 governorship election, Dickson won with 417,500 votes (88.7% of the total), while Imoro Kubor of the Change Advocacy Party (CAP) came second with 22,534 votes.

Agbedi was a Senior Legislative Aide to the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In 2012, Governor Siriake Dickson appointed Agbedi a Senior Special Adviser on political matters, resigning from this position in 2014.

He contested in the PDP primary election for the Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency seat in the national assembly, scoring 100 votes and winning the general election in 2015.

In 2019, Agbedi ran for a return ticket to the national assembly and won a third term in the House of Representatives.

Agbedi ran twice unsuccessfully for governor of Bayelsa State on the PDP platform. His first attempt in 2011 was against incumbent Governor Timipre Sylva, who was running for a second term. The PDP Screening Committee disqualified both Agbedi and Sylva from the primary, ending Agbedi’s bid.

Agbedi transferred his campaign structure and supporters to Siriake Dickson, who won the party’s primary in 2011. Dickson later appointed Agbedi as Director General of his governorship campaign.

In 2019, Agbedi made a second attempt to be governor of Bayelsa. At a public declaration of interest, he declared himself the most qualified candidate, emphasizing his popularity, transparency, and trustworthiness.

During the 2019 PDP primary, issues arose, including zoning or rotation of governor among the three senatorial districts. Agbedi dismissed the zoning principle and continued his campaign.

Ahead of the primary, Governor Dickson announced three preferred candidates, including Senator Douye Diri. Agbedi reacted by calling the decision a ‘fairy tale,’ denying Dickson’s preference.

Douye Diri won the primary election, but the result was disputed, with Agbedi accusing Dickson of manipulating the process.