BREAKING: INEC declares PDP’s Diri as winner of Bayelsa election

The Independent Electoral Commission has declared Senator Douye Diri and his running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewhruojakpo, as the winner of the Bayelsa Governorship election.

The Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress governorship candidate David Lyon’s hope of assumption of office on Friday (today) as the fifth governor of the state was on Thursday dashed by a judgment of the Supreme Court.

The APC and the Peoples Democratic Party were shocked by the judgment, which created uncertainty in Bayelsa State as both parties disagreed on its interpretation.

The court nullified the election of Lyon and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, who were declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission as winners of the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state.

The judgement was delivered by a five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili.

The panel, in its unanimous judgment, ordered the candidates of the party with the next highest votes and the required constitutional spread of votes in the results of the governorship election declared by INEC to be sworn in as their replacements.

In what appeared to be a twist of fate, as the apex court was delivering the judgment, Lyon was rounding off preparations for his inauguration.