PDP’s Diri maintains lead, wins 5 LGAs, APC’s Sylva wins 1 in Bayelsa poll
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State who is seeking re-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was coasting to victory yesterday after winning five of the six LGAs so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won in one LGA,Nembe.
The results, so far announced by the State Returning Officer and Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof Farouk Kuta, showed that the PDP won in Sagbama, Ekeremor, Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma, and Ogbia LGAs.
The PDP has so far garnered 137,909 votes while the APC is trailing with 73,503 votes.
Meanwhile, the results for Brass and Southern Ijaw LGAs are still being awaited as the INEC has adjourned the announcement of the remaining two LGAs to today (Monday), 12 noon.
The Head of Department Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Bayelsa State, Mr Wilfred Ifogah who announced the adjournment after the session was reconvened by 7pm on Sunday, said there are challenges in coalition of some units and wards results of the two local government areas.
Earlier, yesterday, there was a protest at the office of the INEC over concocted election results from Nembe Bassambiri.
Top Bayelsa based civil society operatives, women groups, youth groups, state and National Assembly members and other concerned citizens gathered at the office of INEC to protest alleged moves by the top leadership of INEC to distort the votes in the Saturday election.
As early as 9am the angry protesters blocked the busy Swali Road location of INEC to prevent the commission from accepting the results from Nembe Bassambiri which they said were concocted.
The Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Dambo Biriyai, SAN, told journalists during the protest that the election did not take place in Nembe Bassambiri.
He called on INEC REC in the state, Mr Obo Effanga, and South-South Commissioner for INEC May Agbamuche-Mbu to do what is right by rejecting the alleged fake results.
