INEC presents CoR to PDP’s Duoye Diri, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo

ABUJA, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) today presented certificates of return(CoR) to the Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Senator Duoye Diri and his running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

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INEC presented the CoR to the candidates in compliance with Supreme Court ruling which declared Duoye Diri as the lawful elected candidate in the Bayelsa Governorship election.

At a press briefing preceeding the presentation of certificates, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said “In compliance with the Supreme Court order, 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 Progressive Congress(APC) whose candidates were deemed not to have participated in the election, the total number of lawful and valid votes cast in the election now stand at 146,999. Out of this figure, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) scored the highest number of lawful votes with 143, 172. Similarly, the party has scored more than 25 percent of the lawful votes cast in all 8 Local Government Areas in the state”, INEC Chairman said.

Professor Mahood Yakubu added that the total number of areas where elections were held or cancelled as a result of the sundry violations are 90, 822.

“The candidate of the Accord Party has the next highest score with 1, 399 votes. The margin of lead between the candidate of the PDP and the candidate of Accord Party is 141,833 votes. With this outcome, the election is conclusive at first ballot.

“Consequently, Senator Duoye Diri and Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo of the PDP are hereby declared winner and returned elected as the the Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State respectively”, he said.