- Appreciates President Tinubu, security agencies
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Douye Diri, as the winner of Saturday, November 11 governorship election held in the State.
The INEC Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Of Technology, Minna, Professor Faruq Kuta, announced the poll result at the State election collation centre on Monday.
He said Diri polled a total of 175,196 votes to defeat his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 110,108 votes while the Labour Party candidate came a distant third with only 905 votes.
Meanwhile, basking in the euphoria of returning to the Bayelsa Government House for a second term, Diri has pledged to be the governor for all Bayelsa people irrespective of their political affiliations.
Appreciating the Bayelsa people for giving him another four-year tenure, the Governor said; “This victory would not have been possible without the mighty hand and grace of the Almighty and the overwhelming support you have shown towards me and my Government of Prosperity.”
Diri, who spoke in a statewide broadcast on Monday, said; “I am deeply humbled by your overwhelming expression of confidence and by your mandate to serve you for another four years.
“I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone that cast your vote in my favour and entrusted me with the responsibility of leading our beloved state.”
He described his victory as “the collective will of a people united towards progress and a better future”.
Also commending the President for showing neutrality in the conduct of the election, Governor Diri said; “I want to place on record our gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allowing the conducive environment for what has been a free, fair and credible election.”
Below are the Local Government Areas (LGAs) results as announced by INEC:
1. Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA
Accredited Voters: 24,171
APC: 5,349
LP: 22
PDP: 18,465
2. Ogbia LGA
Accredited voters: 36,955
APC: 16,319
LP: 57
PDP: 18,435
3. Yenagoa LGA
Accredited voters: 54380
APC: 14 534
LP: 244
PDP: 37 777
4. Sagbama LGA
Accredited voters -42 879A-05
AA-01
ADC-24
ADP- 29
APC- 6608
APGA- 08
APM- 07
APP- 0
PP- 0
LP- 217
NNPP- 02
NRM- 45
PDP- 35504
PRP- 11
SDP- 02
ZLP- 04
5. Nembe LGA
Accredited voters – 27 404
A- 0
AA- 04
ADC- 26
ADP- 18
APC- 22248
APGA- 07
APM- 05
APP- 02
PP- 04
LP- 113
NNPP- 01
NRM- 16
PDP- 4556
PRP- 03
SDP- 29
ZLP- 04
Total valid votes cast- 27036
Rejected votes- 264
Total votes cast- 27300
6. Ekeremekor LGA
Accredited voters – 32 066
A- 0
AA- 0
ADC- 11
ADP- 15
APC- 8445
APGA- 04
APM- 03
APP- 01
PP- 13
LP- 50
NNPP- 02
NRM- 18
PDP- 23172
PRP- 06
SDP- 0
ZLP- 01
7. Brass LGA
Registered voters- 94, 040
Accredited voters- 32, 064
A – 01
AA – 0
ADC -14
ADP – 24
APC – 18431
APGA – 04
APM – 03
APP – 0
BP – 02
LP – 83
NNPP – 01
NRM – 31
PDP – 12602
PRP – 05
SDP – 08
ZLP – 02
Total valid votes cast- 31,211
Rejected votes- 403
Votes cast- 31, 614
8. Southern Ijaw LGA
Registered voters – 184, 401
Accredited voters- 50, 153
A- 01
AA- 02
ADC-31
ADP- 53
APC- 18,174
APGA- 07
APM- 02
APP- 08
BP- 02
LP- 119
NNPP- 0
NRM- 37
PDP- 24, 685
PRP- 31
SDP- 02
ZLP- 04
Total valid votes cast- 43,158
Rejected votes- 663
Votes cast- 43,821
