President Bola Tinubu emerged victorious in the presidential primaries conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State last Saturday, having received a total tally of 277,192 votes in all the 105 wards of the eight local government areas in the state.
According to Governor Douye Diri, who performed the duty of collation agent in the state, the result was announced at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa.
There were massive turnouts throughout the state during the primaries in which Tinubu easily defeated his rival, Stanley Osifo, who recorded just five votes in Yenagoa Local Government Area.
Votes from the eight local government areas revealed that Tinubu won Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas, which recorded 46,283 and 45,949 votes respectively.
The other four local governments, which include Brass, Southern Ijaw, Nembe, and Yenagoa LGA recorded 39,454, 34,692, 32,487, and 30,834 votes respectively.
Ogbia scored 24,896 votes, while Kolokuma/Opokuma scored 22,593 votes.
Diri, through his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, praised party members and officials for conducting a peaceful and properly conducted primary election.
The process during the elections was so smooth in terms of the presidential, National Assembly, and State House of Assembly elections that he called this significant change from previous years of political instability in the state.
In addition, Diri also appealed to the party members to remain united, noting that victory will not come from any individual effort but from joint efforts.
He stated that all the contenders are still significant members of the party irrespective of the outcome of the primary elections.
With the combination of both the incumbency advantage and numerical strength, the party is better off going into the 2027 general elections in Bayelsa.
Earlier in the day, Diri supported the reforms of President Tinubu, adding that even if the present economic measures have made life difficult for now, it will ensure stability in the future.
Furthermore, he also highlighted the need for restructuring as crucial in finding solutions to the numerous problems of ethnicity, religion, and politics in the country, saying the history of Tinubu in the democracy advocacy group showed his potential for transforming the nation.
The results were also collated amidst close monitoring by the INEC team led by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bayelsa, Isah Ehimeakhe, and the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Daniel Iyamah.
Notable people who attended the event include the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku.
