INEC declares PDP’s Diri Bayelsa governor-elect

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday declared the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Douye Diri, as governor-elect of Bayelsa State.

INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the declaration at a press conference held at commission’s headquarters on Friday

Diri came second in the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state, behind the candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

The Supreme Court on Thursday had sacked the governor-elect of Bayelsa State, David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the ground that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo presented a forged certificate to INEC.

Yakubu said the commission had reviewed the apex court judgment and found that the PDP’s candidate scored the second-highest lawful votes.

He said the PDP met the constitutional requirement of 25 percent lawful votes in 2/3 of the 8 local government areas in Bayelsa.

The Certificate of Return would be presented to the governor-elect at the commission’s headquarters today.