By Bliss Okperan
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Douye Diri, has been announced as the winner of the November 11, 2023, governorship election in the state.
Mr Diri participated in the exercise, seeking re-election for a second term in office under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which conducted the exercise, could not conclude it last Saturday, causing a delay in announcing the results on Sunday as it did in Imo and Kogi States. Only results from six of the eight local government areas of the state were earlier announced.
On Monday, November 13, the electoral umpire declared Mr Diri as the winner of the poll after garnering 175,196 votes to defeat his rival, Mr Timipre Sylva, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Mr Sylva, who is the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari, once governed the oil-rich state.
Mr Diri conquered Sagbama, Kololuma/Opkuma, Yenagoa, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Southern Ijaw local government areas in the keenly-contested election.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya