The PUNCH reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, Bayelsa State Returning Officer, Prof Faruq Kuta, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, announced Diri winner of the poll at the collation centre of the election on Monday.
Diri polled 175,196 to defeat his closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, who garnered 110,108 votes while the Labour Party polled 905 votes.
The PDP Governors’ Forum, under the leadership of Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed also commended INEC for ensuring the integrity of the process.
The Forum, in a statement by its Director General, Cyril Maduabum, on Monday, noted that the good stewardship of Diri in his first term in office won the people’s votes.
PDP Governors described Diri’s victory as a well-deserved victory, validation of hard work and good governance.
The statement read in part “PDP–GF commends Governor Diri for his fair-mindedness and even spread of infrastructural projects to all sections and segments of the State in his first term. The Forum also notes the Governor’s peace initiatives across the State and party immediately on assumption of office in 2019, which created the enabling environment for his developmental projects and programmes to thrive.
“We are confident that Senator Diri would continue to deliver life-changing dividends of democracy to the indigenes and residents of the State, who affirmed their choice by voting for him again at the polls.
“We commend the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for ensuring the integrity of the election through the proper usage of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System in instilling public confidence in the electoral process.”
The Forum urged the Bayelsa Governor to continue his famed magnanimity in victory.
