Ovide Mercredi elected president of Manitoba NDP

OvideMercredi was elected the party's new president Saturday afternoon on day two of the NDP's annual convention in Winnipeg.

Mercredi, who was strongly endorsed by Premier Greg Selinger, trounced incumbent Ellen Olfert and beat out18-year-oldNDPprovincial council member Tyler Duncan for the position.

As of Saturday, 919 delegates hadregistered at the NDP leadership convention anumber that is expected to balloon on Sunday, when the vote for a new leader of the party will take place.

Mercrediserved as the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations from 1991 to 1997.

Duncan, who was endorsed by SteveAshton, received a standing ovation for putting his name forward as a candidate forNDPpresident.

Ellen Olfertranto be re-elected, and despite purportedly having the support of Oswald's supporters, she ultimately couldn't score a win.

In the first ballot, Mercredireceived 218 votesthe highest number of the three candidates. Olfertcame in second with 199 votes andDuncan in third with 145.

It isn't clear whether the results fromSaturday's presidential elections give any indicationof the kind of support leadership candidates willreceiveSunday.

CBC will continue to provide updates from the NDPconvention.

NDP delegates will decide Sunday whether it will beAshton, Oswald orSelingerwho will be the next leader of the party and the premier of Manitoba.