Independent candidate Kumura wins Usino-Bundi seat by 279 votes

Independent candidate Vincent Kumura has narrowly won the Usino-Bundi by-election, edging out his closest rival by just 279 votes.

Kumura secured 14,694 votes to defeat runner up Donald Uguro of the People’s First Party, who polled 14,416 votes at the final count. Nick Kumati of Our Party finished third with 12,223 votes.

The declaration was made by Returning Officer Terence Baiyo at the Rimoru Opotio Hall around 6pm today. Kumura led the race from the start of counting over the weekend until the final elimination this afternoon.

A total of 27 candidates contested the by-election, including five former MPs, two of them former Madang governors, Peter Yama and Jim Kas.

The seat had been vacant for more than a year following the death of former MP and Education Minister, the late Jimmy Uguro.