Governorship Election: APC defeats PDP, takes over Bayelsa

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has snatched Bayelsa State away from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC was declared winner of the gubernatorial race which began on Saturday, November 16.

Although other political parties field candidates for the exercise, it was largely seen as a contest between the two major political parties in the country.

While David Lyon is the candidate of the APC, Duoye Diri  emerged the flag-bearer of the  state ruling PDP.

According to Punch Newspaper which quoted the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Faraday Orumwense, the APC candidate defeated the PDP candidate who was his close rival with over 200, 000 votes.

The announcement was made at the early hours of Monday.

While Lyon is said to have scored 352,552, Mr Diri, despite being backed by the outgoing governor, Henry Dickson, polled 143,172 votes to trail behind.

The outcome of the election has thwarted the long ruling of the PDP in the state since the return to democracy in 1999.