President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate David Lyon for emerging victorious in the Bayelsa state governorship election.
According to reports, Mr Lyon won in six of the eight local government areas in the state to defeat the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Douye Diri, who won just two LGAs – Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma.
Mr Lyon was declared winner early Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The returning officer, Faraday Orumwese, Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, announced that Mr 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.
The total number of votes cast was put at 505,884; rejected votes were 6,333; and number of valid votes were put at 499,511.
President Buhari, in a statement on Monday morning, commended APC supporters in particular and Nigerians who exercised their civic rights in a peaceful manner, notwithstanding the pockets of unrest recorded in some locations.
According to the president:
“Violence during elections vitiates our commitment to demonstrate to the world and upcoming generation that we are people capable of electing leaders in a peaceful and orderly manner.”
Condemning the loss of lives in Bayelsa, particularly prior to the election, Buhari commiserated with the families of the victims. He said;
“it is unfortunate that pockets of unrest, mostly sponsored by desperate politicians, were recorded during the poll”.
“The President looks forward to working with the incoming government to improve the lives of the people in Bayelsa State while ensuring the security of lives and property of all citizens.
“President Buhari urges 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”, the statement added.
