The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a Certificate of Return to the House of Assembly member-elect in Bayelsa State. Obo Effanga, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), presented the certificate to Amakoromo Waikumo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who emerged victorious in the Yenagoa Constituency 2 rerun election.
The rerun election was conducted in seven polling units of Gbarain 1 and 2, and Ekpetiama 1 and 2, where previous elections were canceled due to electoral malpractices. Waikumo secured 5,959 votes, defeating his closest rival, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 5,263 votes.
The initial election on November 11, 2023, had declared Warikumo Amakoro as the winner, but PDP candidate Eboiwou Koku Obiyal contested the result, leading to a court-ordered rerun election on February 3, 2024.
During the presentation of the certificate of return, the state REC, Obo Effanga, explained, “The Court of Appeal directed that a re-run election be conducted in seven polling units to determine the actual winner, and that is exactly what we did.”
This issuance follows the determination of the winner, as directed by the Court of Appeal after the initial election result faced legal challenges. This development signifies the conclusion of a prolonged electoral process, and INEC’s action establishes the legitimacy of the elected representative.
