The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is poised to declare the winner of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election held on Saturday, November 11th, today, unless there is an unforeseen last-minute development.
As the final collation of results is scheduled to commence today, incumbent governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Douye Diri, and his primary rival from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timipre Sylva, await the verdict.
INEC had halted collation on Sunday, postponing it to 12 pm due to the delayed arrival of results from Southern Ijaw and Brass Local Government Areas.
After the collation of the last local government, Ekeremor, Diri secured an insurmountable lead with 137,900 votes against Sylva’s 73,503 votes, establishing a difference of 64,404 votes.
In the initial three local government areas (Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma, and Ogbia), Diri garnered 74,677 votes, surpassing APC’s Timipre Sylva, who secured 36,202 votes.
Diri further solidified his lead by winning two out of the three additional local government areas announced. In Sagbama, he garnered 35,504 votes against Sylva’s 6,608 votes, with Labour Party candidate Udengs Eradiri receiving 217 votes.
Sylva triumphed in Nembe with 22,248 votes, while Diri polled 4,556 votes. In Ekeremor, Diri secured victory with 23,172 votes, surpassing Sylva’s 8,445 votes.
Meanwhile, INEC has already declared the winners of the governorship elections in Kogi and Imo States. Governor Hope Uzodimma of the APC secured re-election in Imo, while Ahmed Usman Ododo emerged victorious in the Kogi election.
Ada Peter
