East New Britain Province

ToBaining scored over the expected majority with the winning votes of 12, 052.

He served as the Member for Kokopo from 2012 to 2017.

Tobaining lost in the 2017 National General Election to Emil Tammur.

In this year’s National General Elections, coming in second place was PANGU Pati candidate Emil Tammur with 6,729 votes.

The winner was declared after the 20^th elimination.

ToBaining’s win now adds to a total of six MP’s declared under the PNC Party banner.

The elimination process commenced on Saturday afternoon at Vunapope Diocesian Hall upon completion of quality checks.

Top 5:

1. Ereman ToBaining Jnr - 8,901
2. Emil Tammur- 4,709
3. Komet Malari- 3, 390
4. Ekonia Walom- 3,007
5. Elison Mapua- 1,561

Eliminations are continuing.

Eliminations began on Saturday afternoon and continues today.

The 10 candidates that have been eliminated from the race are (order of 1^st elimination) Margaret Sova, Philip Siaguru, Beniljus Jawai, Darius Kalulu, Albert Tilimon, Patrick Vatenge, Benedict Killion, Richard Tapil, Jack Angra, Moses Joshua.

After the 10th exclusion on Moses Joshua, the progressive tally for the Gazelle Open Seat is:

Top 5

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

Candidate Wayne Coleman who polled 1,515 after the 5^th Exclusion registered the least number of votes, therefore is being eliminated from the contest for the Rabaul Open Seat.

The Total Number of Formal Votes - 13124 and Informal Votes - 651. After the Primary Counts, no candidates has reached the Absolute Majority - 50%+1 (6562+1)

Therefore, Team Rabaul Open electorate will proceed into Quality Checks and commence Elimination until the Absolute Majority is reached and Declaration.

The Result after Counts #: 19 and 20 are as follows;

10. Francis Tavatun                                         04 + 05 = 09

11. Wayne Coleman Tamsak                           94 + 60 = 154

The latest results follow counting of ballots from Ialakua, Raluana, Vunagi and Talakua.

Progressive results for the first five include;

1. Ereman Tobaining Jnr - 6, 512
2. Emil Tamur - 4, 196
3. Komit Malari - 2983
4. Ekonia Walom - 2393
5. Steven Magil -1166

Counting covered Vunabuk, Rakival and Vunakabai wards of Watom LLG with the progressive total from the last box will be transferred to 66b for exclusion.

The progressive results for the first five candidates are:

1. Dr Allan Marat                                 4,317
2. Graham Piniau Rument                 2,669
3. Raymond Paulias                            2,344
4. Wayne Coleman Tamsak              1,281
5. Taupa Puipui                                     999

Counting started at 8.30 this morning. The first ballot box, box 19, was from Watom LLG. Box 19 was polled by Team 133 at Vunaulaiar, Rau, Taranata and Valaur.

The progressive results for the first five are as follows:

He says it is expected that nine boxes will be counted today due to the slow pace experienced in the past few days.

From situation faced yesterday with four candidates requesting quality check, the RO believes there will be good understanding as counting progresses.

Yesterday, 14^th July, PRO Joap Voivoi advised that a full quality check was conducted on all 6 ballot boxes for all the nine candidates from 11am to 6pm, leaving candidates and scrutineers satisfied with this process.