The results of the election for the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN) held on the 10th of August have been announced, with Pastor Abraham ||Kheibeb securing victory after receiving the highest number of votes. 

Andreas Katangolo, Chairperson of the Electoral and Nomination Committee of the ELCRN, has confirmed.

The three candidates received the following votes: ||Kheibeb with 2,256 votes, Sagues |Keib with 1,787 votes, and Lorens Kuzatjika with 1,023 votes, while 137 ballot papers were spoilt. 

Following the election, |Keib, the incumbent bishop, officially withdrew from the contest, leaving ||Kheibeb as the duly elected bishop and Kuzatjika as deputy bishop.

||Kheibeb was the deputy bishop under |Keib, who now received the second-highest votes, and had he not withdrawn, he would have served under ||Kheibeb.

Katangolo pointed out that of the 12,286 registered voters, only 5,193 turned up to vote, leaving over 7,000 members absent from the process. 

He further explained the reasons for the current bishop's decision to step down from the deputy bishop role.

"Pastor |Keib, who is the current consecrated bishop, had to withdraw from this position as the deputy bishop by virtue of the fact that a bishop who has been consecrated already cannot deputise or come down to a deputy position. That is constitutionally why Pastor |Keib had to withdraw."

In response to NBC News' request for comment, current Bishop Sagues |Keib said a press release will be issued next week.