Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie’s party added to its big parliamentary majority by easily winning a by-election in his former rival’s district.
Election officials said Tuesday that preliminary results show that Renardo Curry of Christie’s Progressive Liberal Party dominated the contest on Abaco island.
The Monday by-election fills the seat of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. He held it for 35 years, but stepped down earlier this year after Christie’s party swept his Free National Movement from power.
Christie described it as a “magnificent win.”
While Ingraham conceded defeat on behalf of his party, he has also alleged that the ruling party “intimidated” voters. He is offering no specifics, however.
Christie has dismissed Ingraham’s accusations as “absolute stupidity.”
Christie’s party now controls 30 of the 38 parliamentary seats.
