Over 4000 candidates to contest: EC

Over 4000 intending candidates have made known their intention to contest in the 2017 National Election for the 111 seats in Parliament.

The Issue of Writs will be on April 20, followed by candidates’ nomination, campaign and election period in June.  

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato revealed that a total of 4068 intending candidates had filled and submitted the candidate bio-data form (Form 29).

According to statistics released by the PNG Electoral Commission, the Highlands Region registered the highest number of intending candidates with a progressive total of 1719.

Followed by Momase with 1017, Southern with 998 and New Guinea Islands with only 334.

Gamato said Southern Region recorded the highest number of female intending candidates with 71, Highlands 59, Momase 45 and NGI 18.

West New Britain Province is the only province that did not record any female candidates to contest the coming election, while Morobe and Gulf provinces recorded the highest number of female intending candidates with 18 each.

(File picture)

Author: 
Charles Yapumi