The governor appoints the heads of parastatals, state-owned bodies, judicial officers, permanent secretaries and members of the Executive Council with the exception of the deputy.
Since attaining statehood, Bayelsa State, as of 2024, has been governed by a total of 12 leaders, including both military administrators and civilian governors.
This key council includes the Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government,[3] the Chief of Staff, Head of Service, and Commissioners responsible for managing various ministries and departments.
It is regulated by the Judicial Service Commission, which handles appointments, promotions, and disciplinary matters within the judiciary.
Among other responsibilities, the Chief Judge performs the ceremonial duty of administering the oath of office to the Governor of Bayelsa State.
Traditionally, the Chief Judge retires voluntarily at sixty or statutorily at sixty-five years of age.
Presently, the state judiciary comprises about 9 judicial divisions, 13 magisterial districts, and 13 Customary Court areas.
Led by a Speaker, the House consists of 24 members, each elected to four-year terms in single-member constituencies by plurality.
The primary responsibility of the House is to create laws for the peace, order, and effective governance of the state.
These include approving budget estimates presented by the executive, making laws on chargeable rates and their collection by local government councils, confirming gubernatorial appointments, overseeing and monitoring government agencies, reviewing the executive's policy implementation strategies, summoning and questioning commissioners regarding their ministries, and initiating impeachment proceedings to remove the governor or deputy governor.
The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has a history of initiating impeachment proceedings against top government officials.
Michael Ogbere, also a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), represents Ekeremor Constituency III.