Declaration

He was officially declared at 1:30pm yesterday, 28 July by Returning Officer, Tau Toea at the Rita Flynn counting centre.

Tkatchenko polled 28, 111 votes which went passed the absolute majority of 23, 310 votes.

Also present during the declaration was Social Democratic Party Leader and Incumbent NCD Governor, Powes Parkop and PANGU Pati’s leader and Caretaker Prime Minister James Marape.

Tkatchenko thanked his people for the overwhelming support to return him back to Parliament.

Dr. Tom polled a total 35,782 votes. He was followed by;

KENNEDY THOMAS LEMBAN - 10,807

MILFRED WANGATAU - 5574

SAMUEL PHILIP KENAI - 5474

PATO POTANE - 3948

Dr. Tom says that his priorities lie within fixing the election processes and work on electronic voting. He appealed to the people of Wabag for peace and invited those who contested against him to work together for the betterment of Wabag.

Progressive results after exclusion 24:

1. Box 33. Sam Basil Jnr (ULP) – 16,072
2. Box 12. Russel Yakam (NA) – 4,877
3. Box 26. Tae Guambelek (PNG Party) – 3,057
4. Box 30. Luke Kewo Jnr (Independent) – 2,967
5. Box 37. Dan Yansom (Independent) – 2, 295

Peter, who is a United Resources Party candidate, won with 19,585 votes in the 28^th elimination.

Following behind was former MP, Ross Seymour, on 14,274 votes.

16,629 was the absolute majority, while the exhausted ballot papers totalled 4,798.

When making his speech, Peter said he wants to see Huon Gulf change, adding it has been too long.

United Resource Party leader, William Duma, was on the ground to witness the declaration at the Lae Secondary School hall.

Peter is the second URP candidate to be declared.

The absolute majority was 18,528, and the elimination process was exercised to declare the winner.
Member-elect Richard Maru now proceeds into the official signing of the writ. 

Meanwhile in the Maprik Open electorate, after exclusion 17 the incumbent, John Simon was leading with 13,446, with Gabriel Kapris closely running behind on 10,024 and Hildeanne Wefin is on third with 6,337 votes. 

Elimination continues with more candidates to be excluded and a winner will be announced soon. 

The new member elect Daniel Tindipu was declared with 11,232 votes. This brings the number of Pangu candidates to six MPs.

The other Pangu MPs include, Tari Pori MP, James Marape, Hela Governor Philip Undialu, Komo-Margarima MP Mannasseh Makiba, Lae MP John Rosso, and the newly elected MP for Rabaul, Graham Rumet.

Photo Credit: Inter-Departmental Election Committee (IDEC)

The formal declarations were made at 5pm at the counting venue at Malaguna Secondary School.

The final total after the 7^th and final exclusion, Dr Marat received 5,189 votes while Graham Rumet tallied 5,192 votes.

This follows the distribution of 3447 Votes from the 7th Exclusion by United Labor  Party Candidate #:15 Raymond Paulias to the Melanesian Liberal Party (MLP) Leader, Dr. Allan Marat and Pangu Candidate, Graham Piniau Rumet.

The Votes Distribution included the Exhausted Votes:

1. Can #:14 Dr. Allan Marat - 4857 + 332 = 5189

Presiding judge, Justice Collin Makail this afternoon heard the two applications that was moved by lawyers representing Dawa Lucas Dekena and Nick Kuman.

The case returned following the restraining orders that were issued on Aug 2, stopping Kuman from making the declaration of office taking part in the election of the Speaker and Prime Minister.

However, the restraining orders were not served in time to the Speaker and Clerk of Parliament, in order for it to take effect against Kuman.

The orders were issued at 11:50am, Kuman made declaration at 12:03pm

His declaration was done by Bale Kavanamur, the newly-appointed returning officer for Moresby North-West, at around midday today. Kavanamur was appointed RO this morning.

Sir Mekere ousted sitting member, Michael Malabag, who was excluded at the 33^rd elimination last night.

He thanked the electoral officials for the job well done but expressed anger and frustration at the same time for the counting process.

He said a lot of voters were denied their right to vote and choose their leader of choice, the fundamentals of democracy.

Maprik Open Returning Officer, Godfried Sokamia, told Loop PNG this morning that four candidates remain after the 18th exclusion yesterday.

"In the process of excluding candidates, the exhausted ballot papers will reduce the absolute majority (figure) between 16 to 17,000 votes.

"The current absolute majority stands at 18,000-plus," Sokamia said.

Of the 22 candidates who contested to unseat NA Party candidate and Parliament Deputy Speaker John Simon, the last four standing are: