Four days after he was declared winner of the Bayelsa State governorship election, Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and his running mate, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rted), yesterday received certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The certificates of return were presented to the governor and the deputy governor elect at the INEC state headquarters, by the National Commissioner in charge of South-South, Dr Mustapha Lecky, assisted by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Baritor Kpagih.
The state INEC headquarters was turned into a carnival of sort as associates and supporters of the PDP sang and drummed while the occasion lasted.
In his remarks, National Commissioner, INEC, South -South, Dr Lekcy, said that the presentation of certificates of return to the governor and deputy governor-elect was in line with the statutory responsibility of the Commission which makes it mandatory to issue certificates of return to the winners within seven days after declaration.
Lecky said, “Section 68, sub- section 1 and 75, subsection 1, of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, states that the declaration and return of the candidate at the election by the returning officer is final, subject to review only by the Election Tribunal or Court under the Act.”
In his remarks, Governor Dickson, who dedicated the victory to God and the people of Bayelsa State, thanked the people for their resilience and for defying intimidation to vote overwhelmingly for the PDP, assuring that he will not let them down.
