By Ayo Oye, ABUJA
Senator Douye Diri and Lawrence Ewhruojakpo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have been declared winners and duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state respectively.
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made the declaration Friday in Abuja while addressing a press conference on the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment on the Bayelsa governorship election on Thursday.
Prompt News reports that Supreme Court had on Thursday, nullified the November 16, 2019 election that produced David Lyon as Bayelsa Governor-Elect because his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo, presented fake certificates to contest the election.
Prof Mahmood, INEC chairman declares thus:
“In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, the commission met this mornings ng and reviewed the result of the election in which 45 political parties contested.
“Without the votes secured by the All Progressives Congress, APC, whose candidates were deemed not to have participated in the election, the total number if lawful and valid vies cast in the election now stand at 146, 999.
“Out of this figure, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scored the highest number of lawful votes with 143,172. Similarly, the party has scored more than 25% of the lawful votes with the eight Local Government Areas of the state.
“Consequently, Senator Douye Diri and Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo of the PDP are hereby declared winners and returned elected as Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state respectively.”
