The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Diri Duoye as the Governor Elect of Bayelsa State.
The election of David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was nullified by the Supreme Court on the grounds that Lyon’s running-mate Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo submitted fake credentials to INEC.
Addressing the media at the headquarters of the commission, INEC chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu said “In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, the Commission met this morning and reviewed the result of the election in which 45 political parties contested. Without the votes scored by All Progressives Congress (APC), whose candidates were deemed not to have participated in the election, the total number of lawful and valid votes cast in the election now stand at 146,999.
“Out of this figure, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored the highest number of lawful votes with 143,172. Similarly, Al Party has scored more than 25% of the lawful votes cast in all the eight (8) Local Government Areas of the State.
“Furthermore, the total number of registered voters in places where election was not held or cancelled as a result of sundry violations is 90,822. The candidate of the Accord Party has the next highest score with 1,339 votes. The margin of lead between the candidates of the PDP and the Accord Party is 141,833 votes. With this outcome, the election is conclusive at first ballot.
“Consequently, Senator Douye Did and Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo of the PDP are hereby declared winners and returned elected as Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State respectively. “
He added that a Certificate of Return would be handed over to Diri in line with the Supreme Court ruling.
