Senator Douye Diri has emerged as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP for the November 16 governorship election.
The Governor Darius Ishaku-led PDP Bayelsa State Governorship Primary Committee conducted the exercise at the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa.
Diri is Governor Seriake Dickson annoited aspirant from the Restoration political family.
The Senator polled 561 votes in a primary which 19 other aspirants participated.
One of the 21 aspirants, Talford Ongolo, had stepped down from the race on the eve of the primary poll.
The exercise, which began at 11:30pm Tuesday night ended at 5:00am Wednesday morning.
Former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Timi Alaibe, came second with 365 votes.
Diri and Alaibe are from the same Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area.
Keniebi Okoko, son of a former national President of the Ijaw National Congress and Professor of Political Science, Kimse Okoko, got third position in the primaries with 142 votes.
Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, was the chairman of the governorship electoral panel that conducted the exercise.
According to the result, which was declared by Ishaku, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah (rtd) scored 62 votes while Benson Kombowei polled 24 votes, Arc Reuben Okoya got 19 votes with Kombowe Benson polling 24 votes. Ishaku added that Ayawe Nimibofa and Joshua Maciver scored 7 votes each while Kemela Okara, Etolor Robinson, Franklin Osaisai and Bolade Igali polled 4 votes each while Benson Agadaga, Talford Ongolo, Kiyaramo Johnson and Alagoa David had 3 votes each, Igiri Tobin scored 2 votes.
Prior to the voting, delegates were accredited at the Ijaw House on the Sani Abacha Expressway from where they were conveyed to the Dr. Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre.
The exercise was monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Monday Tom Udoh.
Ishaku said total votes cast were 1, 253 while total valid votes were 1,237 and a total of 16 invalid votes were recorded.
