Philip Undialu

The amended notice of motion filed on Sept 19 in the Election Petition Originating Summons No.8/2016 seeks, amongst other things, an order restraining Potape from performing the functions and duties as Governor for Hela Province.

That motion briefly went before the National Court this morning but could not be heard as the defendants’ lawyers, including Potape’s lawyer, were not served the motion.

Undialu’s lawyer Justin Wohuinangu said they could not effect service of the motion on Potape’s lawyer Philip Ame.

Deputy Governor, Thomas Potabe now takes charge of the province and will call a provincial executive council meeting this Thursday before an assembly is conducted next week Tuesday to appoint a new governor.

Potape is optimistic to return as the duly elected governor of the province after the court also gave clear directions on who the legitimate members of the provincial assembly are.

Potape and his lawyer appeared before Justice Collin Makail on Friday morning seeking interim orders to have the court recognise him as Hela Governor and Thomas Potape as deputy governor.

The motion also seeks to restrain member Koroba-Lake Kopiagio, Philip Undialu, from acting as Governor. Undialu was purportedly elected governor by the Provincial Assembly on the morning of July 5.

Potape’s notice of motion filed on Aug 9 did not proceed to be heard today.

Chairman of the Organising Committee and Koroba MP Philip Undialu in a statement said late Governor Agiru’s funeral program was deferred to next week because the people wanted the government to look into some of their commitments.

“The reason being that the Hela people petitioned the National Government to look into some major issues our late Governor has being pursuing before he passed away,” says Undialu.

The issues are;