Bayelsa Guber Poll: Senator Douye Diri Factor
Exactly two months ahead, November 16, Bayelsa State voters will be heading for the polls to elect a successor to Governor Henry Seriake Dickson. Many political parties in the state, are taking part in the exercise. The race is however, a straight fight between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP is fielding Senator representing Bayelsa Central in the National Assembly, Douye Diri in the contest, while APC is running with David Lyon, a businessman and oil magnate. In emerging the PDP candidate, Diri polled a total of 561 votes to beat 19 other aspirants. The closest to him was the former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs, Timi Alaibe, who scored 365 votes. Lyon polled 42,138 votes to beat five other aspirants in the primary election of the APC. Both represent the two rival tendencies in contemporary Bayelsa politics. Diri is believed to be the preferred candidate of Governor Dickson, for the Restoration Caucus in th...