Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has expressed commendation for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the credible conduct of the Bayelsa State Governorship Election, declaring it as one of the best elections organized by the electoral umpire.
Diri, who secured a second term in office by defeating his closest rival Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC), lauded the fairness and transparency exhibited by INEC during the fiercely-contested poll. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, he acknowledged the challenges faced by the electoral body but asserted that the election could be sincerely adjudged as free and fair.
While recognizing the human effort behind the electoral process and acknowledging its imperfections, Governor Diri specifically highlighted the successful deployment of the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), describing it as a full test of the electoral system. He emphasized the unique challenges faced by Bayelsa due to its distinct terrain, differing significantly from Kogi and Imo states where off-cycle governorship elections were concurrently held.
Addressing concerns about the delay in releasing results, Governor Diri attributed it to the complexities of conducting elections in Bayelsa’s challenging environment. He mentioned specific challenges, such as a boat mishap, which necessitated the extension of the election to the following day.
Diri acknowledged that such challenges contributed to public curiosity and suspicion regarding the release of results and the final declaration. However, he asserted that despite these hurdles, the election was conducted fairly, and results were released transparently.
With the election concluded, Governor Diri now shifts his focus towards governance, signaling a commitment to leading Bayelsa State into its next phase of development and progress.
