Degi-Eremienyo Biobarakuma Wangagha

Degi-Eremienyo Biobarakuma Wangagha (born 22 February 1959), is a Nigerian politician and the senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district of Bayelsa State at the 9th National Assembly.

In 2019, he was appointed the vice chairman of the Senate committee on gas resources and vice chairman of the Senate committee on special duties.

Early life and education: Degi is from Basambiri, Nembe, Bayelsa State. In 1990, he graduated from Rivers State University with a degree in agricultural economics/extension, and later received a master of business administration from the same university.

Political career: Degi began his political career in the 1980s. In 1990, he became a member of the local chamber in Nembe Local Government Area, becoming vice-chairman in 1993 and chairman in 1999. He served as a commissioner for rural development and chieftaincy affairs, and also as a commissioner for health in Bayelsa State. He was a member of the governing council of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and served as executive director of human resources in FERMA.

In the 23 February 2019 general elections, Degi was elected senator for Bayelsa East with 43,303 votes, defeating the PDP candidate, Ipiganai Izagara, who received 32,363 votes.

On 10 September 2019, Degi was named David Lyon’s running mate for the 16 November 2019 Bayelsa State governorship election. However, on 12 November 2019, the Federal High Court in Abuja disqualified him from this role due to falsification of academic documents. The Court of Appeal halted the disqualification on 15 November 2019, citing alleged false academic information. Despite this, he was declared deputy governor-elect on 16 November 2019 by INEC. On 13 February 2020, the Supreme Court invalidated his election on grounds that he submitted a fake certificate to INEC.