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Opore re-elected Bonchari Member of Parliament

During the March 4 election, Zebedeo Opore was declared the winner by five votes after garnering 8,992 votes against Oyioka's 8,987 votes/FILE

During the March 4 election, Zebedeo Opore was declared the winner by five votes after garnering 8,992 votes against Oyioka’s 8,987 votes/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 24 – Ford People candidate John Zebedeo Opore has recaptured the Bonchari parliamentary seat in Monday’s by-election, which saw him garner 10,947 votes in provisional results released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

His rival Oroo Oyioka (ODM) who went to court prompting nullification of the March 2013 result came second with 6,977 votes.

The two politicians were engaged in a bitter legal battle after the High Court nullified Opore’s win and declared Oyioka the validly elected winner.

READ MP declared winner without by-election now loses seat

Opore however moved to the Court of Appeal which quashed the High Court’s decision that directed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to issue a certificate confirming Oyioka as the validly elected legislator without a by-election last year.

Opore who spoke to journalists after the announcement of the provisional results of the mini-poll on Monday night attributed his victory to FORD People’s popularity in the region.

“The winner of this election was actually Zebedeo Opore and the court battles were irrelevant but at the end of the day, Kenyans have shown that the true winner of last year’s election was actually myself,” he stated.

During the March 4 election, he was declared the winner by five votes after garnering 8,992 votes against Oyioka’s 8,987 votes.

However, a recount and scrutiny ordered by the court revealed that Oyioka had garnered 8,967 against Opore’s 8,963 reflecting a margin of four votes.

During his victory speech on Monday, Opore further emphasised the need for unity now more than ever before if development is to be achieved.

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“Ford People is now stronger than before. The way forward now is for everyone to come together so that they are able to benefit more from the government because when we are together, we are stronger,” he said.

IEBC’s Returning Officer Peter Resa indicated that there were 24,450 valid votes cast, representing 61.76 percent in the constituency that has 39,587 registered voters.

He stated that he will declare the final results once forms 35 are received.

Wiper’s Charles Onyancha was third with 5,171 votes.

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