The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the incumbent Governor, Douye Diri, as the winner of the Bayelsa State governorship election conducted on Saturday.
Governor Diri emerged victorious, defeating Chief Timipre Sylva, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), along with sixteen other contenders in the closely watched election.
The State Returning Officer, Prof. Kuta Farouk, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, officially announced the results at the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Media Centre, INEC, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Governor Diri secured victories in six out of the eight local government areas of the state, while his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the APC, managed to win in only two LGAs.
Prof. Farouk disclosed that Governor Douye Diri garnered 175,196 votes, securing his triumph over Chief Timipre Sylva, who obtained 110,108 votes.
The total number of registered voters for the election was 1,056,862, with 372,000 voters accredited to participate in the electoral process.
The PDP candidate secured victories in Kolokuma/Opokuma, Ogbia, Yenagoa, Sagbama, Nembe, Ekeremor, Brass, and Southern Ijaw LGAs, while Chief Sylva of the APC emerged victorious in Nembe and Brass LGAs.