Sequel to yesterday’s verdict of the Supreme Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Douye Diri and his running mate, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor winners of the November 16, 2019 Governorship election in the State.

INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmud Yakubu announced this minutes ago in Abuja where he stated that the commission met this morning and reviewed the results in compliance to the order of the Supreme Court.

According to him, excluding the votes scored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) which was declared not to have contested the election by the apex court, the next highest lawful votes was scored by the PDP.

“In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, the commission met this morning and reviewed the results of the election in which 45 political parties contested.”

“Without the votes scored by the All Progressives Congress whose candidates are deemed not to have participated in the election, the total number of valid votes cast in the election now stands at 146, 999.”

He, therefore, declared Douye Diri and Lawrence Ewhrudjakpor elected and returned as winners of the election, adding that their certificates of return will be issued to them at once.     

Out of this figure, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party scored the highest number of lawful votes is 143,172. Similarly, the party has scored more than 25 per cent of lawful votes cast in all the eight local government areas.”  

The Supreme Court had yesterday nullified the election of David Lyon, and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, predicating its decision on the presentation of false documents to INEC by the latter.

Diri and Erujakpor will be sworn in later today at the Creek Haven (Government House), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.