Central Bougainville Regional Women’s seat now has a new member, Ms. Theresa Baranangko who was officially declared the Member-Elect for the Central Bougainville Regional Women's Seat.

Ms. Baranangko won by a landslide victory of 23,303 votes after the final exclusion.

The Returning Officer Mr. Tonny Moera made the declaration at 12.12amBST at the Tupukas Primary School Hall in Arawa over the weekend on Saturday morning.

Out of the five female candidates that contested the Women's seat, Theresa maintained the lead, collecting over 16,000 votes in the primary count across the ten Constituencies of Central Bougainville and the ballots from the BIBs and BOBs voters, and later picked up more than 7,000 votes in the elimination round to finish off with 23,303 votes.

Second runner up was the sitting member, Geraldine Yolanda Paul who finished with 14,000 votes.

Speaking at the declaration, Ms. Baranangko vowed to work with all stakeholders including fellow candidates, and citizens of all ten Constituencies of Central Bougainville to deliver Bougainville's aspiration for independence.