Counting

Results as if 5.16am this morning are as follows:
1. Timothy Masiu - Pangu Pati - 10, 938
2. Herman Michael - URP - 5323
3. Albert Punghau - PNC - 5242
4. Nehemiah Wesma - Independent - 2749
5. Robert Kebau - SDP - 1709

Updates to follow.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent David Warap said he was impressed with the provincial election team who had been sharing resources, information and have been coordinating well. They all look forward to counting.

Warap said all ballot boxes from the various districts/electorates were received on Wednesday 20 July. Bad weather conditions had prevented the helicopter from extracting of ballot boxes for Karamui and Gumini Local Level Governments (LLG).

The results are:

1. Marsh Narewec (PNGD) – 501
2. Asher Patengi Liuliu (Independent) – 254
3. Levi Wartovo (Future of PNG Party) – 229
4. Judas Sali Giamayung – 213
5. Wayang Kawa (Ind) – 203

This is count 3 of 25.

The ballot boxes were from Wau Urban, Ward 9, and wards 1 and 2 of Wau Rural.

Provincial Electoral Manager, Poevare Tore said polling is done for all polling sites except for Turama in Kikori District to polish up on returning the ballot boxes by today.

“Kaintiba boxes have already been extracted yesterday and locked away and we are expecting Kikori boxes to be here today,” he said.

Mr Tore said as soon as the boxes are in town and depending on the set up of the counting area, they are good to go.

A two-day training was conducted by EC kerema with three separate training conducted for Kerema Open, Kikori Open and the provincial seat.

Returning Officer for Madang Open, Joe Sakipa said the recount was done because counting late yesterday was done without proper lighting. 
 
Counting for Madang Open started yesterday with box one of team one from North Ambenob LLG. 
Sakipa is hoping that they will count four boxes today depending on how fast the counting officials sort out the papers. 
 
He said the tally on the board will be displayed for the public. 

A total of 546 polling teams were dispatched into the six electorates since Monday.

According to Simbu Election Manager Reverand, Tom Siune Kaupa due to the rugged terrain and bad weather, extraction of polling teams dispatched to remote parts of Karamui was delayed.

These areas are only accessible by chopper and airplane.

Mr. Siune said despite the challenges, they completed polling and were ready for counting.

Counting commences today.

The results are:

1. Jason Peter (URP) – 14,091
2. Ross Seymour (National Alliance) – 11,836
3. John Kasu (Independent) – 4,665 
4. Tukape Masani (United Labour Party) – 3,736

In the progressive tally after count 1. The first five are;
1. Gabriel Nicholas - 167
2. Andrew Moi - 123
3. Keith Iduhu - 129
4. Wilfred F Kaeaka - 50
5. Mathias Jack - 27

Meantime, Kairuku Open began counting ballots on Monday. Counting officials managed to complete count 1 and count 2. 

The candidates handed the petition to the Returning officer Vincent Manukuyasi just before lunch.

Among the points raised, the candidates want live streaming of the counting and also allow the media to cover the event.

A criminal complaint of tempering, illegal voting, and fraud in the ward 1 area has also been submitted to RO Manukuyasi and has been submitted to NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu.

Candidate Des Yaninen said, “The candidates want full transparency of the counting process.”

Milne Bay Provincial Returning Officer Ivan Maraka said Milne Bay began its count with Kiriwina Good Enough starting on Saturday at the Alotau Catholic Diocese Hall.

The Regional and Esaala counting was conducted at Huhu Informal Market, Samarai Murua at Strang Hall, Cameron Secondary School on Sunday, while Alotau counting got underway at the Alice Wedega Basketball Court yesterday (Monday 18^th July).