By OKECHUKWU PEACE
Incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Seriake Dickson on Sunday emerged as the winner of the state governorship election but the re-elected Governor won’t be celebrating.
He defeated his All Peoples Congress (APC) fierce rival, Chief Timipre Sylva, with a margin of 48,146 votes.
Announcing the results, the Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer for the election in the state, Prof. Zana Akpagu stated that Dickson polled 134,998 votes to beat Sylva, who scored 86,852 votes.
It would be recalled that Dickson had in the December 5, 2015 election, secured 105,748 votes while Sylva polled 72,594 votes but the results of the election in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, which has 120,827 registered voters was cancelled.
INEC had, on Saturday, January 9, conducted a supplementary governorship election in Southern Ijaw and 101 polling units across six local government areas in Bayelsa State.
In the highly contentious Southern Ijaw LG, Dickson scored 23,081 votes while Sylva polled 10,216 votes.
About 53,000 votes were cancelled, especially from Southern Ijaw LG.
Responding to his victory in the poll, Dickson thanked the electorate for their gallantry in ensuring his re-election for another four years.
