The incumbent governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri is leading in popularity and acceptability in a public opinion poll conducted for candidates billed to participate in the election in Bayelsa state.
The opinion survey that was independently conducted by a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Push Africa Foundation (PAF), showed that the governor is ahead of others in the race in terms of popularity.
A physical and online poll conducted by the organisation on the likely voting pattern in the November 11, 2023, gubernatorial election saw Diri emerging first with 45 per cent of the total votes cast.
Immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and current, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, came second with 20 percent of the votes while Engr. Udengs Eradiri of the Labour Party (LP) was on the third ladder with 10 per cent.
The findings of the survey made available to newsmen in Abuja revealed that the physical poll was carried out in six communities across each of the eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The poll results showed that a total of 74,000 registered voters voted in the online poll while 11,800 registered voters did so physically across the eight LGAs.
Also revealed was that the survey was conducted for a period of one month simultaneously in the eight LGAs with 65 per cent male participation and female having 35 per cent while 55 per cent represented youths.
Factors considered by participants in choosing Diri during the opinion poll survey, according to findings, were his level of political tolerance and maturity, his peaceful disposition, accommodating spirit, the ongoing construction of the three Senatorial roads and the attention being paid to workers’ welfare, among others.
According to the organizer of the poll, Push Africa Foundation, the independent survey started on June 28 and ended on July 29, 2023.
Executive Director of the Push Africa Foundation (PAF), Ms Doris Egberamen, while confirming the findings of her organization said the second round of the poll would hold in September to identify any new development.
The Director hinted that the second round of the poll is necessary because 25 per cent of the respondents were undecided in the current exercise and further disclosed that Push Africa Foundation which successfully organized the last Bayelsa gubernatorial election debate in 2019 alongside its media partners is also planning to organize the 2023 governorship debate.
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