The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Douye Diri as the winner of the highly anticipated Bayelsa State governorship election held on Saturday.
This victory secured a second term in office for Diri, marking a significant milestone in Bayelsa’s political landscape.
In a keenly contested race, Douye Diri, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged triumphant after garnering a total of 175,196 votes. He surpassed his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who obtained 110,108 votes, solidifying his hold on the state’s leadership.
The announcement of the election results was made by the State Returning Officer, Prof. Kuta Farouk, who also serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. The declaration took place at the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Media Centre, located within the INEC headquarters in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.
Diri’s electoral victory extended across the state, as he secured victories in six of the eight local government areas (LGAs).
These LGAs included Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, Yenagoa, Sagbama, Nembe, Ekeremor, Brass, and Southern Ijaw. In contrast, his closest contender, Timipre Sylva of the APC, managed to secure victories in only two LGAs, namely Nembe and Brass.
The Bayelsa State governorship election recorded a total of 1,056,862 registered voters, with 372,000 individuals accredited to cast their ballots. The massive voter turnout underscored the significance of the election, highlighting the active participation of the state’s residents in shaping their political future.
