Duoye Diri, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
in the November 16 Bayelsa governorship election, has waved the olive branch to
former members of his party who defected to the All Progressives Congress
(APC).
Diri, who is expected to be sworn in as governor of the
state, made the comment following the supreme court sack of David Lyon, his APC
rival.
According to results announced by the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), Lyon defeated Diri in the march election.
He had polled 352,552 votes while the PDP candidate secured
143,172 votes, leaving a margin of 209,382.
The PDP and Diri had sought the disqualification of
Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, Lyon’s running mate, over alleged falsification of
results.
On Thursday, a panel of judges led by Mary Odili affirmed
the verdict of a federal high court which disqualified Degi-Eremienyo from the
election for “submitting forged credentials to INEC”.
The apex court also said the candidate with the second
highest number of votes in the election should be issued a certificate of
return.
While addressing reporters on Friday, Diri, who polled the
second highest votes, pleaded with PDP members who had left the party to
return.
Asked if his invitation to the opposition party meant he would
run an inclusive government, Diri replied in the affirmative.
“The members of PDP, who out of one thing or the other got
angry and left us to APC, I’m waving the olive branch, please, come back,” Diri
said.
“We have to build Bayelsa state together. I’m also calling
on my brothers in APC they are Bayelsans, we cannot continue to be in disunity.
“Being in APC does not remove you as my brother of Bayelsa
state. Whether you are Nembe, Okpia, Sabama, or Southern Ijaw, that is the
region that God has brought us together and so, I am extending my olive branch
even to those of my brothers and sisters in APC.”
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