The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Senator Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party governor-elect of Bayelsa State, following a ruling of the Supreme Court on Thursday nullifying the initial declaration of David Lyon of the All Progressives Congress as winner.
INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, made this known at press conference in Abuja on Friday.
He said the candidate of PDP scored more than 25 per cent of lawful votes cast during the November 16, 2019 election.
He said, “In compliance with orders of the Supreme Court, the commission met this morning and reviewed the result of the election in which 45 political parties contested.
“Without the votes scored by the All Progressives Congress whose candidates were deemed not to have participated in the elections, the total number of lawful and valid votes cast in the election now stand at 146,999.
“Out of this figure, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party scored the highest number of lawful votes with 143, 172.
“Similarly the party has scored more than 25 per cent of the lawful votes cast in all eight local government areas of the state.”
Lyon’s victory was nullified by the apex court after it emerged that his running mate presented a forged certificate to INEC before the election.
