PNG Electoral Commission

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, William Samb, said this when officially launching The PNGEC Corporate Plan 2018 – 2022 today.

The five-year Corporate Plan aims to enhance the capacity of the PNG Electoral Commission to deliver high quality electoral services to the people.

Minister Samb commended the EC on the launch saying if fully implemented will address many issues witnessed during National General Elections.

“Funds for allowances are parked in the bank, the responsibility now is for the returning officer to provide us with the names and account numbers,” Gamato said.

“Sometimes, on the eleventh hour, they change people’s names and bring in new people and they need to put the bank account (details) so we can transfer their allowances.    

“The issue of funds for allowances should not be the case now because as I am speaking, there is enough money to pay allowances.”

One of such is the need to bring in a neutral person, like a foreigner or most possibly, the United Nations, to run the elections.

This suggestion was made by the sitting Governor Powes Parkop, who described rumours of unethical conduct by certified officials as disgusting.

“Nationals don’t seem to have the ability to deliver smooth, fair and peaceful elections. It’s about time we swallow our pride and allow the EC to be led by a neutral person – a foreigner,” he said.

Governor Parkop pointed to election practice in other countries such as Solomon Islands and Fiji.

Manus is the only province with one district - Lorengau. It however has two seats; the open and regional seats.

Polling in the province will commence on Saturday 24 June and will be carried out for 21 days till 3 July.

Manus has 160 polling venues covering its 12 Local Level Governments and 131 wards.  

 
AWA-WUVULU RURAL LLG

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato told Loop PNG that the candidate posters for Momase, New Guinea Islands and Southern Regions are in print and Highlands Region will be printed soon after corrections are made. He said the delay is because of candidates’ photos.

The PNGEC candidate posters will be placed at the voting area for voters to identity their candidates and mark their preferences.   

Gamato said ballot papers are enough for the 111 Open and Provincial Seats, and the work of voter enrolment is complete.

PNGEC media officer Alphonse Muapi said the law is very clear.

He also said a party can only endorse one candidate to run for an Open and Provincial seat in the 2017 National Election.

Muapi stated that PNGEC does not have control on posters printed by the candidates. However, the candidate poster to be printed by PNGEC will follow the legitimate party listing provided by individual party general secretaries.

A number factors will play a critical and crucial role in who will be the eventual winner in this race.

The incumbent Governor Parkop has a head start with all the programs he has instituted during his tenure in the capital city.

However, the voting population would have increased over the past five years, not only in NCD but all around the country. Whether new voters have registered will be a major problem. The number of candidates increased by 11 from 27 in the 2012 election to 38 candidates, this will surely see a split of votes.

PNG Electoral Commission media officer, Alphonse Muapi, yesterday said: “Electoral Commissioner has released the updated candidate nomination figures today (Sunday), which stand at 3,332 candidates who will contest for the 22 provincial and 89 open seats.”

The one week nomination for intending candidates for the 2017 National Election ended on April 20, with a slight drop in candidate numbers.

“In 2012, a total of 3,344 candidates nominated but one died during the campaign period leaving 3,343 who contested,” Muapi said.  

Sir Mekere appealed to the Electoral Commissioner, returning and polling officers, the police and other government agencies to respect voters’ rights to vote in an environment of peace and good order. 

He warned against the hijacking of ballot boxes and the rigging of voting and counting.

Sir Mekere called on the Electoral Commissioner not to allow and repeat what happened in 2012 when declaration took place in some electorates even before voting had taken place at other electorates.

“Counting should not start until all voting has finished.