2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election

| country =

| flag_image = Flag_of_Bayelsa_State.svg

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 2019

| next_election = 2027 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election

| next_year = 2027

| election_date = 11 November 2023

| registered =

| turnout =

| nominee1 = Douye Diri

| running_mate1 = {{nowrap|Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo}}

| party1 = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)

| popular_vote1 = 175,196

| percentage1 = 60.93%

| nominee2 = Timipre Sylva

| running_mate2 = {{nowrap|Joshua Maciver}}

| party2 = All Progressives Congress

| popular_vote2 = 110,108

| percentage2 = 38.29%

| map_image = {{Switcher

| 220px

| Results by local government area

| 220px

| Results by Federal Constituency

| 220px

| Results by Senatorial District}}

| map_size = 220px

| map_caption =

Sylva: {{legend0|#8da9e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6892d6|60–70%}} {{legend0|#447cce|70–80%}} {{legend0|#34619f|80–90%}}

Diri: {{legend0|#73bc80|50–60%}} {{legend0|#00b000|60–70%}} {{legend0|#009700|70–80%}} {{legend0|#007900|80–90%}}

| title = Governor

| before_election = Douye Diri

| before_party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)

| after_election = Douye Diri

| after_party = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)

}}

The 2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election took place on 11 November 2023 to elect the Governor of Bayelsa State.{{cite web |last1=Adenekan |first1=Samson |title=INEC releases date for Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi off-cycle governorship elections |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/561653-inec-releases-date-for-bayelsa-imo-kogi-off-cycle-governorship-elections.html |website=Premium Times |access-date=25 October 2022}} Incumbent PDP Governor Douye Diri won election to a second term by a 23.6% margin of victory over former Governor Timipre Sylva, the APC nominee.{{cite web |last1=Francis |first1=Tarinipre |title=JUST IN: Bayelsa State Gov Douye Diri Re-Elected |url=https://fij.ng/article/just-in-bayelsa-state-gov-douye-diri-re-elected/ |website=Foundation For Investigative Journalism |access-date=30 December 2024}}

The primaries, scheduled for between 27 March and 17 April 2023, resulted in Diri being renominated by the Peoples Democratic Party unopposed on 12 April while the All Progressives Congress nominated Sylva on 15 April.{{cite web |last1=Timi-Wood |first1=Doubra |title=Diri Wins Bayelsa PDP Gov Ticket Unchallenged |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2023/04/12/diri-wins-bayelsa-pdp-gov-ticket-unchallenged/ |website=Channels TV |access-date=30 December 2024}}{{cite web |title=Timipre Sylva emerges APC governorship candidate in Bayelsa |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/593503-timipre-sylva-emerges-apc-governorship-candidate-in-bayelsa.html |website=Premium Times |publisher=News Agency of Nigeria |access-date=30 December 2024}}

On 21 March, INEC declared Diri as the victor with official totals showing him winning about 175,000 votes (~61% of the vote) to defeat Sylva with about 110,000 votes (~41% of the vote).{{cite web |last1=Yusuf |first1=Kabir |title=DATA ANALYSIS: What the numbers reveal about Bayelsa governorship election |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/644570-data-analysis-what-the-numbers-reveal-about-bayelsa-governorship-election.html |website=Premium Times |access-date=30 December 2024}} Due to alleged irregularities, Sylva rejected the results and filed a challenge at the electoral tribunal.{{cite web |last1=Mbah |first1=Okem |title=Sylva, Eradiri Reject Bayelsa Election Result, Demand Review |url=https://leadership.ng/sylva-eradiri-reject-bayelsa-election-result-demand-review/ |website=Leadership |access-date=30 December 2024}} The legal case eventually reached the Supreme Court, which upheld the election of Diri in a August 2024 judgment.{{cite web |title=Supreme Court upholds Diri’s re-election as Bayelsa governor |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/727282-supreme-court-upholds-diris-re-election-as-bayelsa-governor.html |website=Premium Times |publisher=News Agency of Nigeria |access-date=30 December 2024}}

Electoral system

The Governor of Bayelsa State 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 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.{{Cite web |last=Mboho |first=Justina |date=2023-03-17 |title=Here’s what the law says about gubernatorial elections in Nigeria |url=https://nairametrics.com/2023/03/17/gubernatorial-election-in-nigeria-what-the-law-says/ |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Nairametrics |language=en-US |quote=A candidate's contesting election to governorship positions shall be deemed to have been duly elected where he has the highest number of votes cast and not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the state.}}

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 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.{{cite web |last1=James |first1=Akam |title=Jubilation as first commercial flight lands at Bayelsa Airport |url=https://dailypost.ng/2021/08/11/jubilation-as-first-commercial-flight-lands-at-bayelsa-airport/ |website=Daily Post |date=11 August 2021 |access-date=14 March 2022}}{{cite web |title=Bayelsa: Royal father praises Gov. Diri for completing Nembe 'unity bridge' |url=https://gazettengr.com/bayelsa-royal-father-praises-gov-diri-for-completing-nembe-unity-bridge/ |website=Peoples Gazette |date=8 March 2022 |publisher=News Agency of Nigeria |access-date=14 March 2022}}{{cite web |title="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 |url=http://saharareporters.com/2021/08/11/bags-belong-governor%E2%80%94power-drunk-bayelsa-state-governor-douye-diri-aides-breach-airport |website=Sahara Reporters |access-date=14 March 2022}}{{cite web |title=Ex-Military Dictator, Abacha Remains Our Hero In Bayelsa – Governor Diri |url=http://saharareporters.com/2021/09/27/ex-military-dictator-abacha-remains-our-hero-bayelsa-%E2%80%93-governor-diri |website=Sahara Reporters |access-date=14 March 2022}}

Primary elections

The primaries, along with any potential challenges to primary results, will take place between 27 March and 17 April 2022.

=All Progressives Congress=

In February 2022, the national APC announced its gubernatorial primaries' schedule, setting its expression of interest form price at ₦10 million and nomination form price at ₦40 million with a 50% nomination form discount for candidates younger than 40 while women and candidates with disabilities get free nomination forms. Both primary forms were sold from 14 to 22 February 2023. The form submission deadline was set for 22 February while candidates would be screened between 24 and 26 February. Ward congresses were set for 8 April in Bayelsa and Imo states to elect delegates for the primary while the Kogi congresses had been held on 8 February. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 10 April, in concurrence with the other APC gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made on 12 April.{{Cite tweet |author=APC Nigeria |user=OfficialAPCNg |number=1626471199021604864 |title=APC RELEASES TIMETABLE AND SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR 2023 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS IN IMO, KOGI AND BAYELSA STATES. |access-date=17 February 2023|link=https://twitter.com/OfficialAPCNg/status/1626471199021604864}}

==Purchased forms==

David Lyon: 2019 APC gubernatorial nominee{{cite web |last1=Agba |first1=George |title=Bayelsa Guber: Lyon Picks APC Forms, Supporters Seek Right Of First Refusal |url=https://leadership.ng/bayelsa-guber-lyon-picks-apc-forms-supporters-seek-right-of-first-refusal/ |website=Leadership |date=18 February 2023 |access-date=18 February 2023}}
Timipre Sylva: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (2019–present), 2015 APC gubernatorial nominee, and former Governor (2007–2008; 2008–2012){{cite web|title=Bayelsa 2023 guber polls: Ebebi jettisons Sylva's rotational formula, declares interest|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/04/bayelsa-2023-guber-polls-ebebi-jettisons-sylvas-rotational-formula-declares-interest/|access-date=20 June 2021|website=Vanguard|date=23 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=JUST IN: Timipre Sylva joins race for Bayelsa gov seat |url=https://punchng.com/just-in-timipre-sylva-joins-race-for-bayelsa-gov-seat/ |website=The Punch |date=20 February 2023 |access-date=20 February 2023}}

==Potential==

Peremobowei Ebebi: 2020 Bayelsa West senatorial by-election nominee and former Deputy Governor
Heineken Lokpobiri: former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development (2015–2019) and former Senator for Bayelsa West (2007–2015)

=People's Democratic Party=

On 1 December 2022, the national PDP announced its gubernatorial primaries' schedule. Both primary forms—the expression of interest and nomination forms—were sold from 16 to 31 January 2023, aside from Kogi State where the deadline was later extended to 13 February. Similarly, all form submission deadlines were pushed back from 13 February to 1 March. Ward congresses were set for 28-29 March and LGA congresses were rescheduled for 8 April to elect delegates for the primary. Candidates approved by the screening process advanced to a primary set for 14-15 May, in concurrence with all other PDP gubernatorial primaries; challenges to the result could be made in the following days.{{cite web |last1=Odunsi |first1=Wale |title=PDP postpones screening date for Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi governorship aspirants |url=https://dailypost.ng/2023/02/10/pdp-postpones-screening-date-for-bayelsa-imo-kogi-governorship-aspirants/ |website=Daily Post |date=10 February 2023 |access-date=11 February 2023}}

==Cleared by screening committee==

Douye Diri: Governor (2020–present){{cite web |last1=Folaranmi |first1=Femi |title=Bayelsa guber: Diri picks nomination form for re-election |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/bayelsa-guber-diri-picks-nomination-form-for-re-election/ |website=The Sun |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=11 February 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Igoni |first1=Daniels |title=PDP clears Diri for Bayelsa gov poll |url=https://punchng.com/pdp-clears-diri-for-bayelsa-gov-poll/ |website=The Punch |date=21 March 2023 |access-date=21 March 2023}}

==Declined==

Timi Alaibe: 2019 PDP gubernatorial candidate and former NDDC Managing Director/CEO

Conduct

=Electoral timetable=

{{Excerpt|2023 Imo State gubernatorial election|Electoral timetable|hat=no}}

General election

=Results=

{{Pie chart

|caption=Candidates' vote share

|label1=Douye Diri (PDP)

|label2=Timipre Sylva (APC)

|label3=Other candidates

|value1=60.93

|value2=38.29

|value3=0.78

|color1={{party color|Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)}}

|color2={{party color|All Progressives Congress}}

|color3=silver}}

{{Election box begin no change| title = 2023 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election

}}