July 31, (THEWILL) – High Chief Seiyefa Koroye of Toru-Orua Community has been elected as the new Pere of Tarakiri Kingdom in Bayelsa State.
The Electoral Committee Chairman, High Chief Ayakeme Whiskey, while declaring the results of the election held on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at Ebedbiri Secondary School, said the total accredited delegates were 94, drawn from 13 Communities of the Tarakiri Clan and stated that the winner must secure 50% of the total votes cast in line with sub-section 4 of the electoral guidelines.
He stated that High Chief Koroye scored 45 votes; His Royal Highness, Famous Eseduwo, the Amananaowei of Angalabiri, scored 28 votes; High Chief Keme Prefa polled 20 votes, while High Chief Fidelis Agbiki abstained from the contests.
According to the Electoral Committee Chairman, the results did not produce a clear winner as none of the candidates secured 50%, as a result, the election went to a second ballot between the two candidates with the highest votes while High Chief Keme Prefa was eliminated.
At the end of the second ballot, High Chief Seiyefa Koroye scored 63 votes to defeat His Royal Highness, Famous Eseduwo, who polled 29 votes.
The Electoral Committee, led by the Chairman, High Chief Ayakeme Whiskey, immediately presented the Certificate of Return to High Chief Seiyefa Koroye as the duly elected Pere of Tarakiri Clan.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the declaration of the results, High Chief Ayakeme Whiskey described the process of the election as very transparent and orderly and commended the delegates for their peaceful conduct during and after the election, noting that if elections are conducted the way it went, losers will have no cause to complain.
Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Ogbere, described the election as a friendly contest between two brothers, while stating that it was a peaceful and credible process.
He encouraged the Tarakiri people to embrace peace and urged the Pere-elect to provide fair leadership and carry everybody along in the scheme of things.
The Deputy Speaker thanked the delegates for their show of maturity and the orderly manner they conducted themselves while the election lasted.
When asked if politicians will imbibe the smooth process of the Pere of Tarakiri election, Hon. Michael Ogbere said politicians have no problem abiding by good conduct and stated that the problem is the INEC. He, therefore, urged the national electoral umpire to conduct transparent elections in the country devoid of glitches.
The winner of the election, High Chief Seiyefa Koroye, while speaking to newsmen at his country home in Toru-Orua, attributed his success story to sacrifice, hard work and service to humanity, which he stated has given him recognition as expressed by the people at the election.
He promised to unite the Tarakiri Clan and consult widely, collaborate with critical stakeholders, Government and development partners to move the communities forward.
