2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election

The 2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election will take place in late 2023, to elect the Governor of Bayelsa State. Incumbent PDP Governor Douye Diri is eligible to run for re-election, but has not yet stated whether he will do so. The primaries will be scheduled for early 2023.[1][2]

2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election
late 2023
 
Party APC PDP
Governor before election

Douye Diri
PDP

 Elected Governor

TBD
TBD

Electoral system

The Governor of Bayelsa State is elected 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 state 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.

Background

Bayelsa State is a small state in the South South mainly populated by Ijaw peoples; although its oil reserves make it one of the most resource-rich states in the nation, Bayelsa has faced challenges in security and environmental degradation in large part due to years of systemic corruption and illegal oil bunkering.

Politically, the state's early 2019 elections were categorized as the continuation of the PDP's dominance albeit with the APC making considerable gains by gaining one senate and two House of Representatives seats. The APC also gained ground in the assembly election and Bayelsa also was the state that swung the most towards Buhari in the presidential election, although that could be chalked up to former Governor Goodluck Jonathan no longer being PDP nominee. Later in 2019, the swing towards the APC dramatically increased as its gubernatorial nominee David Lyon won by a large margin but Diri was declared victor after Lyon was disqualified before the inauguration. Ensuing senate by-elections in 2020 were then easily won by the PDP, cementing the state's potentially erratic voting record.

During its term, the Diri administration's stated focuses included the economic diversification, agricultural development, and the completion of the Bayelsa International Airport. In terms of his performance, Diri was commended for the completion of the airport and the Nembe Unity Bridge while being criticized for forcing his way past airport security checkpoints in August 2021 and praising former military dictator Sani Abacha.[3][4][5][6]

Primary elections

The primaries, along with any potential challenges to primary results, will take place in early 2023.

Potential

Potential

References
  1. "Bayelsa 2023 guber polls: Ebebi jettisons Sylva's rotational formula, declares interest". Vanguard News. 2020-04-23. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  2. Reporters, Swift (2020-04-23). "Ebebi, Set To Tackle Sylva In The 2023 Bayelsa Governorship Election". Swift Reporters. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  3. James, Akam. "Jubilation as first commercial flight lands at Bayelsa Airport". Daily Post. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  4. "Bayelsa: Royal father praises Gov. Diri for completing Nembe 'unity bridge'". Peoples Gazette. News Agency of Nigeria. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  5. ""The Bags Belong To The Governor"—Power-Drunk Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, Aides Breach Airport Security Procedure, Refuse To Be Screened To Board Flight". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  6. "Ex-Military Dictator, Abacha Remains Our Hero In Bayelsa – Governor Diri". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  7. "Bayelsa 2023 guber polls: Ebebi jettisons Sylva's rotational formula, declares interest". Vanguard. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
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