Intending candidates for the 2017 National Elections have been called on to support the move to challenge the proposed nomination and election petition fees amendments in court.
Pangu Party and Deputy Opposition Leader, Sam Basil, is appealing to all the 4,000 intending candidates to join the campaign to mount a legal challenge against the proposed laws.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill recently confirmed his plans to increase the candidate nomination fee from K1,000 to K10,000, and fees for election petitions from K5,000 to K20,000.
Basil made the call yesterday alongside Member for Goilala, William Samb, in a media conference.
They are inviting intending candidates throughout PNG to support the move to take the matter to court and fight the issue before it is passed in Parliament.
Intending candidates have been asked to come on board and to sign up by committing K1,000 towards paying the legal fees to mount a legal action against this proposed law.
Basil has already pledged K1,000 to help pay for a law firm to take the matter to court.
He appeals to all intending candidates to stand with them and bring back the fees to K1,000 so they can all afford to stand for election.
Intending candidate and current president for PNG Constitutional Democratic Party, Ila Geno, is also supporting the move so that the amendments will be delayed or stayed until after the elections are completed.
They intend to carry out awareness in the provinces in the next three months leading up to when the law is passed in Parliament.
The team is now in discussions with three law firms.