THE VALLEY, Anguilla (CMC) — Anguilla’s Governor Julia Crouch is expected to swear in the country’s first-ever female head of government on Thursday after Cora Richardson-Hodge led the main opposition, Anguilla United Front (AUF), to a convincing victory in Wednesday’s general election.

The AUF won eight of the 11 seats at the stake in the Parliament with the outgoing Anguilla Progressive Movement (APM) headed by Premier Dr Ellis Webster, winning the other three seats. Webster was among the victorious candidates for the party.

According to the preliminary results, the AUF won all four “at large” seats and four other constituencies.

“To the people of Anguilla, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your unwavering support, well wishes, and prayers mean the world to us. Today, you showed up, you stood strong, and you made your voices heard.”

“We promise to work with you and for you, to listen, to serve, and to rally around you, just as you have rallied around us. Your faith in us fuels our commitment, and we are truly humbled by your trust,” the AUF said in a statement posted to its Facebook page, just after the preliminary results were announced just before midnight.

“Anguilla, today we witness a momentous milestone in our nation’s history. Let us extend our heartfelt congratulations to Mrs Cora Richardson Hodge on her resounding success at the polls!” it said.

“She has shattered barriers and etched her name in history as Anguilla’s first female premier, a testament to progress, resilience, and the power of leadership. This is more than a victory; it is an inspiration for generations to come,” the AUF added.

Apart from Richardson-Hodge, the other victorious AUF candidates are Jose Vanterpool, Jeison Byran, Shelllya Rogers, Kyle Hodge, Cordell Richardson, Cardigan Connor and Evans McNiel.

The APM’s Haydn Hughes and Merrick Richardson will join Webster on the opposition benches.