Biobarakuma Wangagha Degi Eremienyo (born 22 February 1959), is a Nigerian politician and the senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district of

Bayelsa State Bayelsa is a state in the South South region of Nigeria, located in the core of the Niger Delta. Bayelsa State was created in 1996 and was carved out from Rivers State, making it one of the newest states in the federation. The capital, Yenag ...

at the 9th National Assembly. In 2019, he was appointed the vice chairman senate committee on gas resources and vice chairman senate committee on special duties.

Early life and education

Degi is from Basambiri, Nembe,

. In 1990, he graduated from

Rivers State University Rivers State University (RIVSU or RSU), formerly known as Rivers State University of Science and Technology (UST or RSUST), is a government-owned university located in Diobu (Mile III) area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Southern Nigeria. A ...

with a degree in agricultural economics/extension, before proceeding to receive a master of business administration from the same university.

Political career

Degi started his political career in the 1980s. In 1990, he became a member of the local chamber in Nembe Local Government Area, becoming the vice-chairman in 1993 and chairman of the local government area in 1999. Later in his career, he served as a commissioner for rural development and chieftaincy affairs and also as a commissioner for health in Bayelsa State. He served as a member of the governing council of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and as executive director of human resources in FERMA. In the 23 February 2019 general elections in Nigeria, Degi was elected as the senator representing Bayelsa East, he got 43,303 votes to beat the PDP candidate, Ipiganai Izagara who got 32,363 votes. On 10 September 2019, Degi was announced as David Lyon's running mate in the 16 November 2019 Governorship Election in Bayelsa State. On 12 November 2019, the federal high court in Abuja disqualified Degi as Lyon's running mate for the Bayelsa State governorship election on the basis of falsification of academic documents. The Court of Appeal in Abuja had halted the judgement disqualifying him as Lyon's running mate for allegedly filing false academic information on 15 November 2019. On 16 November 2019, he was declared the deputy governor-elect of

by the

Independent National Electoral Commission Independent National Electoral Commission may refer to: *Independent National Electoral Commission (Burundi) *Independent National Electoral Commission (Democratic Republic of the Congo) *Independent National Electoral Commission (Guinea) The Inde ...

, INEC. On 13 February 2020, a day prior to his swearing-in as deputy governor, his election was invalidated by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on grounds that he submitted a fake certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Degi, Biobarakuma 1959 births Living people People from Bayelsa State Rivers State University alumni Members of the Senate (Nigeria) from Bayelsa State Senators of the 9th National Assembly (Nigeria)