- A wife identified as Stella Nkoro has replaced her late husband in Cross River state House of Assembly
- She was the only candidate that stood for the November 17 bye-election into Ikom II state constituency after the death of her husband, Simon Nkoro
- The Independent National Electoral Commission admonishes the new lawmaker to discharge her duty with high sense of responsibility
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Cross River on Monday, December 23, issued a certificate of return to Stella Nkoro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of November 17 bye-election into Ikom II state constituency.
The state resident electoral commissioner, Dr Frankland Briyai, said Nkoro was the only candidate that stood for the election and was, therefore, declared the winner.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant following the death of Nkoro’s husband, Honourable Simon Nkoro, in August.
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Legit.ng notes that Briyai said: “The bye-election was not contested as only one candidate (PDP) met the requirement. In line with Section 41 of the 2010 Electoral Act (As Amended), Mrs Stella Nkoro was declared winner of the election."
He urged the winner to exhibit a high sense of responsibility in the discharge of her duty as honourable member of the state House of Assembly.
Briyai also called on politicians in the state to play politics without bitterness for the sustenance of democracy in the country.
He said: “Now that the electioneering campaign has started, I urge our politicians to play by the rules, so that we can have peaceful, free and credible elections in Cross River in 2019."
Responding, Nkoro thanked INEC and other stakeholders for making the election successful, adding that she would replicate her husband’s virtue by representing people of the constituency well.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Cross River state House of Assembly mourned the death of one of its lawmakers, Hon Simon Nkoro, who died after a protracted illness just three months after his colleague slumped and passed away.
Nkoro, who represented Ikom II state constituency until his death was said to have died on Saturday, August 25.
The governor of the state, Ben Ayade, expressed shock and sadness over the demise of the lawmaker.
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Governor Ayade, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Christian Ita, said the death of the lawmaker was a loss so painful to bear.
He said: “Mr Nkoro’s demise leaves a sour taste in my mouth and ache in my heart. But then, we cannot question God, Him and only Him alone has prerogative over life."
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Source: Legit.ng