Senator Douye Diri, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State has been sworn in as the governor of the state.

His running mate, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo also took his oath of office as Deputy Governor. The swearing in ceremony took place inside the Bayelsa State government house, in Yenagoa.

A five-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili in a judgement, yesterday ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Lyon having disqualified the ticket and ordered that fresh certificate be issued to the candidate with the highest number of lawful votes and the geographical spread as required by law.

Following the judgement, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Douye Diri, as the winner of the Bayelsa governorship election.

Addressing the media at its headquarters in Abuja, chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, said by the virtue of the Supreme Court’s judgment which disqualified APC candidates from the election, the total number of vote cast now stands at 146,999 and the candidate of the PDP scored 143,172 with the geographical spread.

The All Progressive Congress is not happy with the judgement and demonstrated its rejection in a massive protest round the streets of Yenagoa. There are reported cases of arson as some public buildings were set on fire.

Addressing the media earlier, the Chairman of the APC said the party rejects INEC’s interpretation of the Supreme Court judgement describing it as faulty and that the electoral body lacked the power to pronounce the PDP winner of the election. He said his party will deploy all legal means to seek redress.

Meanwhile, to calm the volatile situation in the state, the Police Command has declared a three-day curfew from dusk to dawn throughout the state. According to the Commissioner of Police, Uche Anozia, who made the announcement, the curfew will last between 8pm – 6am.

Some Angry groups had occupied major streets and the Government House on Friday morning, armed with APC flags and bearing placards, protesting the ruling of the apex court.