2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election
Flag Image:Flag_of_Bayelsa_State.svg
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2015 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election
Previous Year:2015
Next Election:2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election
Next Year:2023
Election Date:16 November 2019
Turnout:54.83%
Nominee1:David Lyon
Party1:All Progressives Congress
Popular Vote1:352,552
Percentage1:70.59%
Nominee2:Douye Diri
Party2:People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
Popular Vote2:143,172
Percentage2:28.66%
Map Size:220px
Governor
Before Election:Henry Seriake Dickson
Before Party:PDP
After Election:Election results annulled

The 2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election occurred on 16 November 2019, the APC nominee David Lyon won the election, defeating Douye Diri of the PDP.[1]

David Lyon emerged APC gubernatorial candidate after defeating his closest rival, Diseye Nsirim.[2] He picked Biobarakuma Degi as his running mate.[3] Douye Diri was the PDP candidate with Lawrence Ewrujakpor as his running mate.[4] 45 candidates contested in the election.[5]

On 14 February 2020, due to irregularities in the filing of the candidacy of David Lyon's running mate, the Supreme Court annulled the election results. Under Nigerian election law, Douye Diri, as the second highest earner of votes, became governor.[6]

Electoral system

The Governor of Bayelsa State is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of local government areas. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas.[7]

APC primary

The APC primary election was held on 4 September 2019. David Lyon won the primary election with 42,138 votes against 5 other candidates. His closest rival was Diseye Nsirim, who came a distant second with 1,533 votes.

Candidates

Results

PDP primary

The PDP primary election was held on September 3, 2019. Douye Diri won the primary election with 561 votes against 20 other candidates. His closest rival was Timi Alaibe, a former managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, who came second with 365 votes, Gboribiogha Jonah, the incumbent deputy governor, scored 62 votes.

Candidates

Results

Results

A total number of 45 candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election.

The total number of registered voters in the state was 922,562, while 517,883 voters were accredited. Total number of votes cast was 505,884, while number of valid votes was 499,551. Rejected votes were 6,333.

By local government area

LGADavid LyonAPCDouye DiriPDPTotal Votes
%%
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Yenagoabgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 24,607bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 19,184bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center"
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Brassbgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 23,831bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 10,410bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center"
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Nembebgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 83,041bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 874bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center"
bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" Sagbamabgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" 7,831bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" 60,339bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center"
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Ogbiabgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 58,016bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 13,763bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center"
bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" Kolokuma/Opokumabgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" 8,934bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" 15,360bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center" bgcolor=#90EE90 align="center"
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Southern Ijawbgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 124,803bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 4,898bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center"
bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" Ekeremorbgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 21,489bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" 18,344bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center" bgcolor=#87BEEB align="center"
Totals352,552143,172499,551

Notes and References

  1. Web site: APC dislodges PDP in Bayelsa, wins governorship election. 2021-03-13. Punch Newspapers. 18 November 2019. en-US.
  2. Web site: 2019-09-04. Bayelsa Governorship: David Lyon wins APC primary. 2021-03-13. en-GB.
  3. Web site: Bayelsa APC gov candidate picks running mate. 2021-03-13. Punch Newspapers. 9 September 2019. en-US.
  4. Web site: 2019-09-04. Dickson's man, Diri, wins PDP governorship primary. 2021-03-13. en-GB.
  5. Web site: Bayelsa State Governorship Election, 2019 Final List of Candidates. live. INEC. https://web.archive.org/web/20191109194610/https://www.inecnigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/BAYELSA-STATE-GOVERNORSHIP-ELECTION-2019-FINAL-LIST-OF-CANDIDATES.pdf . 9 November 2019 .
  6. Web site: 2020-02-14. Confusion in Bayelsa as S-Court sacks gov-elect, Lyon. 2021-05-24. Vanguard News. en-US.
  7. Web site: Mboho . Justina . 2023-03-17 . Here’s what the law says about gubernatorial elections in Nigeria . 2024-04-26 . Nairametrics . en-US . A candidate's contesting election to governorship positions shall be deemed to have been duly elected where he has the highest number of votes cast and not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the state..