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The former Eastern Region Athletes Association Chairman and Head of Health Education Department Eastern Technical University Mr. Sandi Mohamed Koroma Gbatekaka representing the Gbatekaka family have been duly elected Paramount Chief of Gaura Chiefdom Kenema District after defeating his opponent Mendegla Robert with 6 votes in the Paramount Chieftaincy Run-off election.
The event took place on Saturday 10th February, 2024 in the Chiefdom Headquarter town of Joru, Gaura Chiefdom Kenema District.
Seven qualified Candidates contested in the first round of the election including Kaikoi Tarawally Foday Musa, Bunduka Sama Gbandia Hawa, Gbatekaka Wutu M. Alhaji, Gbatekaka Koroma Bockarie, Kallon Bockarie Prince, Mendegla Robert and Sandi Mohamed Koroma Gbatekaka.
Out of the seven candidates contested, Sandi Mohamed Koroma Gbatekaka and Mendegla Robert got the highest Votes (Sandi Mohamed Koroma Gbatekaka 362 Votes representing 34%, and Mendegla Robert 316 Votes representing 29.76%) in the first round and went for the second rounds of the election.
During the second rounds of the election, 954 Ballot Papers were issued with 942 valid votes and 12 invalid votes respectively.
Sandi Mohamed Koroma Gbatekaka got 474 Votes as against Mendegla Robert who got 468 votes.
The Provincial Secretary – East David Bai Turay however, declared Sandi Mohamed Koroma Gbatekaka V Paramount Chief of Gaura Chiefdom Kenema District.
PC Sandi Mohamed Koroma Gbatekaka V will succeed PC Moses Sama Bunduka lll.
Gaura Chiefdom traces its history to a hunter named Mendegla from a present day Guinea.
He is tought to have settled in the area after a hunting trip, he came upon a forested place with many fresh potatoes.
In that place he established the town of Joru, which means “among potatoes” in Mende.
King Mendegula was alive in 1887 when Abraham (2003, pg. 99) reports, he was engaged in a conflict with the warrior Ndawa.
While others in the region were still fighting with the British, Mendegula had apparently sent his sword to Governor Rowe some time before then, as a symbol of peace with the British.
A brother of Mendegula, Bachoy, was the first Signatory to the treaty with the British in 1890. At that time the region was called Kokoru after his village.
Gaura Chiefdom has five family lines including Mendegula, Bachoy, Gbatekaka, Kallon and Bunduka.
