By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The Election Commission declared yesterday that the seat for governor of Ngatpang State remains vacant following the results of the recent first ever gubernatorial election there where the three candidates who vied for the position failed to garner enough votes to qualify.
Based on the official results for the special election of Governor and members of State Legislature on March 29, Francesca R. Otong garnered a total of 91 votes out of the 178 total votes cast or 74 percent of the total registered voters of 239. Demei otobed came in second with 178 while Martin Blodak had 21.
The Election Commission said that under the Article VI Section 3 of Ngatpang Constitution, "Governor is elected by the majority of the registered voters of Ngatapang State for the term of four (4) years and not more than two consecutive terms."
The Commission said that "none of the candidates received the requisite number of votes and, therefore, the seat of governor remains vacant."
For the Legislature, those who made it to the nine seats contested were Lee T. Otobed with 145 votes, Constantino Ngiraked (139), Ibuuch Tomoichi (134), Siles Ngiraremiang (128), Ridep R. Emesiochel (120), Elin R. Kloulchad (116), Takemura Erungel (109), Razi "CBOY" Rimirch (99) and Johnson Emesiochel (97).
Those who did not make it were Wanda Techitong Remeliik (86), Martha Techitong (76), Jerry Nabeyama (63) and Skeras Etpison (56).