Gbarnga_Independent Candidate, Prince Koinah, has won Bong County District #1 representative slot after leapfrogging his main contender, Wamah Kuteh in National Elections Commission consolidated tally.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
Koinah won Mr. Kuteh, another independent candidate, with a slim margin of just 72 votes following the electoral body’s final tally reports.
This means that Prince Koinah accumulated 6,846 votes, while his nearest rival, Wamah Kuteh, accumulated 6,774 votes.
Incumbent Lawmaker, Albert Hills, of the All Liberian Party (ALP) finished third with 5,370 votes.
Prior to NEC’s final tally reports, Mr. Kuteh and his supporters had been celebrating victory as they have done in previous elections in which they were defeated, only to be shocked by the final votes from Boinsen administrative District, Koinah’s stronghold which outweighs his numbers and clinched the victory.
Not satisfied with the outcome of the election, Mr. Kuteh filed an appeal at the NEC’s upper Bong office, but failed to appear for a scheduled hearing, thus making the complaint seemly unweighted.
In a related development, incumbent Albert Hills appeal at the local NEC magisterial office in Gbarnga was heard on Monday and was dismissed on grounds that the matter lacks substance.
In spite all the unfoldings, Koinah has been receiving congratulatory messages from prominent citizens including some of his fellow contestants.
Among those who have conceded and congratulated Representative elect Koinah is Jonathan Kwenah and fifth place finisher, Garbla Williams (CDC).
Koinah is replacing out of favor incumbent Representative, Albert Hills, after serving for one term.
Since the pronouncements by the National Election Commission, residents of electoral District one have been jubilating with an expressed confidence of a new-dawn of an improved environment which promotes good governance and ethical leadership.
Separate celebrations staged by the citizens were held in Zoweinta, Dolo town, camp two and David Dean’s town among others.
The crowd of cheerful citizens noted that the election of Prince K. Koinah is a manifestation of his numerous developmental initiatives across the region.
They narrated that in Koinah, they see a transparent, accountable and developmental leader.
“I’m really happy for the election of Prince Koinah, this is a man who has been doing a lot for us before this election, seeing him winning brings me joy because our district will experience rapid growth and development”
A resident Eric Wall exclaimed.
The District #1 Representative elect is taking over the largest electoral district in Bong County at a time the district is faced with numerous challenges.
Topping the long list of challenges Koinah is expected to face are: road inaccessibility, citizens’ dissatisfaction over the operations of Turkish Mining Company, MNG Gold and the District’s faire share of monies the county receives from Arcelor Mital as social development funds.
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