Opposition Leader and sitting Kandep MP Don Polye maintains his lead in the Kandep Open Seat recount with 15,263 votes. This was in the first preference counts after close of counting yesterday.
This is a difference of 8,505 votes to the second-placed candidate since counting started last Saturday.
Kandep Returning Officer Alwin Jimmy told Loop PNG after completion of counting yesterday that Polye scored 15,263, Alfred Manase 6,758 and Bee Pepo 2,262 votes.
“Now we just completed and knocked away after count number 44,” Jimmy said yesterday.
He revealed that 31,476 ballot papers had already been counted so far, with only 206 informal votes registered.
The Court directed the recount after a successful election petition by 2012 runner up Manase.
Jimmy said two boxes were destroyed during the 2012 National Elections.
“Out of the 72 ballot boxes, there were five disputed and not counted in 2012 and now Supreme Court had advised us to count them (also).”
Counting resumes this morning at Wabag Primary School.