The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), David Lyon, as the winner of the Bayelsa state governorship election.
Following the declaration, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated the winner stating that he looks forward to working with the incoming governor to improve the lives of the people in Bayelsa, while ensuring the security of lives and property of all citizens.
Lyon was declared winner on Monday by Faraday Orumwese, Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin and the Returning Officer in the election.
According to results announced, Lyon polled 352,552 votes to defeat Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 143, 172 votes.
The total number of registered voters was announced as 922, 562 and the number of accredited voters was put at 517,883.
President Buhari who congratulated the winner in a statement by Femi Adeshina commended APC supporters in particular and Nigerians in general in the State who exercised their civic rights in a peaceful manner, notwithstanding the pockets of unrest recorded in some locations.
While condemning the loss of lives in Bayelsa, particularly prior to the election, the President commiserated with the families of the victims.
“Violence during elections vitiates our commitment to demonstrate to the world and upcoming generation that we are a people capable of electing leaders in a peaceful and orderly manner,” he added.
He noted that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies did their best within the ambit of the law to ensure free, fair and credible elections.
He, however, described as unfortunate that pockets of unrest, “mostly sponsored by desperate politicians, were recorded during the poll.”
Buhari urged Governor-elect Lyon to carry other divergent interests along in the next phase of governance, imploring those not satisfied with the outcome of the poll to seek redress through the constitutionally established channels.
