Diri Holds a Commanding Lead with a Margin of 65,000 Votes Following INEC's Completion of Local Government Collation

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has compiled the outcomes of the local government elections in Bayelsa state. In the aftermath of this development, the current governor, Duoye Diri, who is running for a second term under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is leading with a significant margin of over 60,000 votes in the governorship election held on Saturday, November 11. 

The competition involves fifteen other candidates, including Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Udengs Eradiri of the Labour Party (LP). The initially diverse field has now narrowed down to a two-man contest, pitting former Bayelsa governor Sylva, who has completed two terms, against incumbent governor Diri, seeking re-election after completing his first term.

Following the declaration of results in Southern Ijaw, the margin between Diri and his closest contender, Timipre Sylva of the APC, has widened to 65,088 votes. Diri secured a total of 175,196 votes, while Sylva trailed with 110,108 votes.