Counting for the Namatanai Open seat in the New Ireland Province has been delayed this morning due to heavy rain.
Counting was suspended at 7pm on Sunday after count 7.
Walter Schnaubelt from National Alliance Party is currently leading the progressive tally for Namatanai Open after count 7 from the Matalai LLG.
Schnaubelt is in the lead on 4,659 votes and in 2nd place is People’s Progress Party candidate and incumbent Open Member for Namatanai James Byron Chan on 3318 votes.
Coming in at 3rd place is Leonard Tonggo from Pangu Party on 25 votes followed by Independent candidate Kiapgugu Ignatius Matius on 23 votes.
Counting was scheduled to commence at 8am today, however, because of the heavy downpour it might be delayed to later in the day.