Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The Chairman, Tarakiri council of Cheifs, High Chief Seiyefa Koroye has been declared winner of the Pere ( Monarch- Elect) of Tarakiri Kingdom Election conducted on 29th July 2023 at Ebedebiri Town in Sagbama local government area of Bayelsa State.
High Chief Koroye is from the Toru-Orua Community and a retired lecturer of University of Port Harcourt.
Seiyefa Koroye emerged as the new Pere Elect following an election keenly contested by 3 contestants who had earlier been screened by Tarakiri Kingdom Election committee after the demise of HRM king Richardford Orukaribai Koroye passed on 2022.
Declaring result of the election, Chairman of the electoral committee and one time Bayelsa State Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, High Chief Ayakeme Whiskey announced High Chief Seiyefa Koroye as winner having fulfilled the electoral guideline of securing 50 percentage of total votes cast in the second round of the election.
The Eleco chairman stated that the ex-Uniport Don in the first round of the election, polled a total of 45 votes out of a total votes cast of 93, as against two other contenders, the Paramount ruler of Angalabiri community, HRH Famous Eseduo, who garnered 28 votes and High Chief Kemi Perefa who scored 20 in the first round of the election.
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 into 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 Eseduo who polled 29 votes.
The Electoral Committee, led by the Chairman, High Chief Ayakeme Whiskey presented the certificate of return to High Chief Seiyefa Koroye as the duly elected Pere of Tarakiri Clan.
Speaking to Newsmen shortly after the declaration of the results, High Chief Ayakeme Whiskey described the process of the election as very transparent, orderly and commended the delegates for their peaceful disposition 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.
He encouraged the Tarakiri people to embrace peace and urged the Pere elect to provide fair leadership, and carry every body 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 to abide by good conduct and stated that the problem is INEC, and 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 clan forward.
He asked for the collaboration of other contestants to make Tarakiri kingdom great.
The Election was supervised by Security agencies and the media, among others.
Daybreak News reports that, 13 Communities participated in the Election, they include Ebedebiri, Agbediama, Agbere, Angalabiri, Ofoni, Isampou, Odorobou, Egbema-Angalabiri.
Others are Odophori, Bulu-Orua, Toru-Orua, Adobu and Ayamasa.
