Local Level Government elections

The Electoral Commission has been stayed from issuing the LLG writs and conducting the elections until the question referred to the Supreme Court, regarding the delay in the 2012 and 2017 LLG elections, are determined.  

The ruling was handed down in court an hour after Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Kevin Isifu, officially signed the writs for the LLG elections today in Port Moresby.

Nominations and campaign were to commence at 4pm today.

Minister Isifu confirmed that by law all LLG Presidents be elected by the Councilors, and not the people. This is to avoid further issues.

Isifu said the Government had rescinded its decision to allow voters elect the LLG President after so many issues arose out of.

“due to so many issues arising and as a result of direct election of heads if the LLG, NEC made a decision, number 375 of 2015, rescinded its previous decision to have the President direct by the voters. These are on-going issues because of the direct election of the President.”

Minister for Inter-Government Relations, Kevin Isifu. said this when announcing the dates for the LLG Elections.

In a media conference today, Minister Isifu announced the dates for one-year deferred LLG Election.

2019 LLG Election Dates

Issue of Writs – Thursday 25^th April 2019

Nominations Close – Thurday 2^nd May 2019

Polling Starts – Thursday 9^th May 2019

Polling Ends – Wednesday 22^nd May 2019

Return of Writ on or before: Thursday 13^th June 2019

Prime Minister Peter O'Neill indicated in parliament yesterday that NEC will approve the submission for LLG Elections deferral when they meet this Thursday.

The submission to defer the Local Level Government elections is necessary because there are outstanding issues the Government needs to address; this includes the outstanding allowances for Council Presidents.

Enga Province is among the provinces affected, prompting the Governor, Peter Ipatas, to ask for the confirmation of the election dates in parliament.

He said LLGs will be given the option of allowing their people to vote for the president, or for council members only to vote for presidents.

O’Neill, replying to the East Sepik Governor Allan Bird’s query on how the Council presidents will be voted in, said it will be entirely up to the provinces.

“There are provinces in the country where they wish to have the council presidents elected by the people – that is fine, and there are other provinces where they want the ward councillors to elect the presidents.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato is conscious of the LLG elections not disturbing the APEC meetings.

Earlier this year, Commissioner Gamato had used his powers to defer the LLG Elections 12 months after the 2017 National General Elections.

This means the LLG elections would commence in July 2018.

The year 2018 is also significant as the country looks forward to hosting one of the biggest world meetings, APEC.

The first vote of 91 – 0  by both the Government and Opposition ranks will now see the process of amending the separation of the LLG Elections and the National Elections from three months to 12 months proceed.

The amendment to Section 103 of the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Government Elections followed the first reading by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

In the first opportunity to debate, Opposition Leader, Don Polye, said the Opposition was happy with the amendment.