The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has felicitated Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri for winning reelection in the just-concluded governorship polls.

This was contained in a statement signed by the President of INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, on Thursday, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, National Executive Council and members of the apex pan-Ijaw socio-cultural organisation.

Okaba noted that in line with the provisions of the INC constitution, the leadership of the body could not demonstrate support for any particular candidate during the electioneering period.

The statement said the congress, however, has the mandate to congratulate the declared winner of the contest.

Diri, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was declared as the winner of the governorship election by the INEC State Returning Officer, Prof. Kuta Farouq, who is the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

It would be recalled that Diri polled a total of 175,196 votes to defeat his major opponent, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who got 110,108 votes while the Labour Party candidate, Udengs Eradiri came third with 905 votes.

The INC condemned all forms and degrees of violence that occurred before and during the election.

It advised any political party or candidate that was not satisfied with the outcome of the polls not to take laws into their hands, but demonstrate good spirit of sportsmanship to join hands with the declared winner for the good of Bayelsa in particular and Ijaw nation in general.

It also advised the governor to be magnanimous in victory by extending his “usual benevolence” to all and continue making the dividends of democracy felt and enjoyed by all citizens and residents in the state.

“As the parent organisation of all Ijaws, the INC advises His Excellency to consolidate on gains of his first tenure; especially the areas of human capital development, security of lives and property, maintenance of law and order, infrastructural development and industrialisation of the state that is already blessed with abundant human and natural resources.

“The INC calls on all citizens and residents in Bayelsa State to rally round the governor in his efforts to foster the much-needed unity, peace and sustainable development of Bayelsa State – Jerusalem of Ijaw nation”, the statement added.