Goroka by-election 2019

Goroka by-election dates approved

He said now that the Supreme Court has dismissed PNGEC’s application to review the National Court decision ordering a by-election, it will now plan and conduct a by-election.

The Goroka Open seat was left vacant after the National Court on 7 February 2019 declared the 2017 election win of Henry Ame as void in an election petition matter (EP#2 of 2017) filed by former member Bire Kimisopa.

By-election court order being studied

This follows the National Court order on February 7th, ordering the first by-election from disputed results of the 2017 national election.

A Supreme Court appeal is most likely to be filed by the PNG Electoral Commission within 14-21 days as of the date of the decision.

While that is being pursued, the Commission will put together the costs for the by-election and submit to the Government for funding.

Goroka by-election ordered

The order was issued this morning after the court refused the recount results.

This is because the Returning Officer and Electoral Commission failed to locate and remove 775 invalid ballot papers in the recount as ordered by the court. This was when it ordered the recount in May last year.

Goroka open will have no parliamentary representative as of today.

The court will be forwarding the orders to the speaker of parliament.

The Electoral Commission has been ordered to conduct the by-election as soon as possible.