The freedom of citizens to govern themselves to the greatest extent possible and to assign authority and responsibility to representatives they will elect themselves is what makes democracy so beautiful. Nigerian citizens are also entitled to elect new leaders every four years.
Out of the sixteen (16) candidates who put themselves forward, it is anticipated that the good people of Bayelsa will turn out in large numbers to cast their ballots for their favorite. The political climate is tense already. The Bayelsa people are making decisions while political players are hustling and bustling for votes.
Here are the brief profiles of the three major contenders in the 2023 Bayelsa Gubernatorial Poll:
Douye Diri
He was a senator in the 9th Assembly, serving as the representative for the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District. He is running for governor of Bayelsa State in 2023 as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) nominee.
Early Life and Education
On June 4, 1959, Douye Diri was born into the A.J.M. Diri family in the Kalama-Owinari compound located in the Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. His early schooling was completed at Rev. Proctor Memorial Primary School, Kaiama, in 1977 after he started at Okoro Primary School, Sampou, where he also earned his First School Leaving Certificate.
Later on, he went to Bayelsa’s Government Secondary School, Odi. At the College of Education in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Douye pursued his education and graduated in 1985 with a National Certificate in Education (NCE). He also studied at the University of Port-Harcourt, where in 1990 he earned a political science Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.).
Political Life
Diri was appointed as a youth and sports commissioner in 2005. He was named chairman of the Bayelsa State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Disciplinary Council in 2012. In 2012, he was appointed to the post of Deputy Chief of Staff at Government House. He was named principal executive secretary in 2013. He was previously chosen to serve in the Federal House of Representatives as a federal legislator. In 2015, he was elected to the Senate.
On February 13, 2020, the Nigerian Supreme Court declared that the results of the 2019 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election were void due to the fact that David Lyon, the real winner of the race, had given the Independent National Electoral Commission a private certificate. The court mandated that on February 14, 2020, Diri be sworn in as the governor of Bayelsa State and given a certificate of return.
He is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 Bayelsa Gubernatorial Election.
Timipre Sylva
He was once the State Minister for Petroleum Resources. In the 2023 Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Election, he is the party’s (the ruling All Progressives Congress) candidate.
Early Life and Education
He was born in Brass, Bayelsa State, on July 7, 1964. In 1976, he completed his primary education at Ajeromi Central School in Lagos, having begun at St. Paul’s Anglican School in Okpoma. Government Secondary School was his school. He earned a distinction in English (Linguistics) from the University of Port Harcourt in 1986.
In 2011, the University of UBIS granted him a Doctorate in International Relations (Honoris causa). On December 2, 2020, LBBS, Leading Edge Foundation, and AiPA (African Institute of Public Administration) awarded Sylva his second doctorate (Honoris Causa) in public administration.
Political Life
After winning a seat in the assembly election to represent the Brass constituency in the former Rivers State, he was elected as a state legislator in 1992. He was named Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources in 2004. He was chosen to serve as the governor of Bayelsa State in 2007. He is the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) candidate for governor of Bayelsa State in 2023. The APC is currently in power.
Udengmobofa Eradir
He was formerly the Youth Development Commissioner. In the 2023 Bayelsa State Gubernatorial Election, he is the Labour Party (LP) candidate.
Early Life and Education
On March 22, 1976, he was born in the state’s Yenagoa local government area, specifically in the Agudama-Ekpetiama community. He was a student at Alaghodaro Primary School. In his hometown, he finished his secondary schooling. After being accepted to the University of Benin, Udengs studied production engineering there. He then completed a course in dredging technology at A&M University in Texas, USA.
In 2017, he also graduated from European American University with an Honorary Doctorate (Hons) in Business Management and Corporate Leadership.He studied at Kuru Jos, Nigeria’s National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies. He holds a negotiation skills certification from the Lagos Business School in Nigeria.
Political Life
He was designated as a Youth Development commissioner. Later on, he was given another term as the Environment Commissioner. He served as the recently appointed Sole Administrator of NDDC’s Special Advisor on Youths and Sports.
Although there are sixteen candidates running for the top spot, there are three front-runners in the guber race, and one of the three predicted winners would probably win the poll. But the final say, as they have been tasked with selecting their favorite candidate to steer the state toward prosperity, belongs to the Bayelsa people. As we share in the thoughts and feelings of the Bayelsa people who must choose their leader via ballots, we also anticipate that the exercise will be peaceful and there will be a winner. Who is likely to win the top seat?