By Eric Elezuo
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2019 governorship election in Bayelsa State, Senator Duoye Diri, has proved that he is a child of providence as against all odds, the governorship of Bayelsa State dropped on his laps., and at the very nick of time. Douye is one politician, who did not have to hang the tag of governor-elect for long before becoming governor. He was sworn in as governor barely three hours after he was declared winner of the November 16, 2019 governorship election alongside his with Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo
His declaration and subsequent swearing-in followed the sacking of the former governor-elect, David Lyon, and his Deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo by the Supreme Court.
A five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to withdraw the Certificate of Return that had been issued to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the November 16, 2019 governorship election
The court then ordered INEC to issue a fresh Certificate-of-Return to the candidate of the party with the next highest votes and with the required constitutional spread of votes in the results of the election, which was the PDP.
A senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria prior to his elevation as governor, Douye Diri was born on June 4, 1959. He was the senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District at the Nigerian 9th National Assembly.
On 13 February 2020, the Supreme Court of Nigeria invalidated the results of the 2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial elections on grounds that the running mate of the actual winner of the election, David Lyon, submitted fake certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission. The court ordered Diri to be issued a certificate of return, which would make him governor-elect.
On Friday, February 14, 2020, he was sworn-in as the governor of Bayelsa State.
Diri started his education at Okoro Primary School Sampou, but obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) in 1977 at Rev. Proctor Memorial Primary School Kaima where he finished. He proceeded to Government Secondary School Odi and obtained his West African Senior School Certificate at 1981
In 1985, Diri completed a certificate course at the College of Education in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State and became a holder of the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) which qualified him to teach in various schools during his early career days. By 1990, he earned a Bachelors of Education degree in Political Science from the University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
Among many positions Diri has held are:
First National Organizing Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC)
Executive Secretary, Centre for Youth Development in Bayelsa State (2000-2002).
Commissioner for Youth and Sports (2005-2006).
Council Board member University of Maiduguri (2008-2012).
Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Disciplinary Council, Bayelsa State (2012).
Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, 2012
Principal Executive Secretary (2013-2014).
Member, House of Representatives representing Kolokuma, Opokuma, and Yenagoa Federal Constituency, 2015
He emerged winner of the governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State on the 4th of September, 2019.
Diri is married to Gloria, and they are blessed with Nigeria. He is expected to propel the affairs of Bayelsa State for the next four years, and one of his main tasks is to reconcile feuding parties that sprouted following his declaration as winner of the governorship election.