Business in Enga’s capital, Wabag, has returned to normal despite speculation of gun fights between supporters of two rival candidates, from Kandep district, over counting related differences.
Shops, banks and PMV bus services in Wabag town and other districts were open to the public and are operating as normal, while counting resumed on Tuesday under tight police and defence security personnel at Wabag Primary School.
Western End police command, Chief Superintendent Mark Yengen, says more reinforcement will be sent in from Mt Hagen to beef up security operations to ensure peaceful declarations of the seats.
Enga election manager Anton Iaumau says the problem is confined to two candidates, Don Polye and Alfred Manase from Kandep, who have been urged to respect candidates and supporters of other districts.
He says Kandep’s exclusion has already started and they have less than seven more candidates to eliminate today before moving towards declaration.
Seven ballot boxes from Kandep have been sidelined following direction from the Electoral Commissioner.
Iaumau says he will stand by that decision unless there is a fresh direction from the top authorities to reverse the previous position.
He says counting officials are working tirelessly to ensure most of the seats, including the regional, are declared today and tomorrow.
(Supporters protesting over the seven ballot boxes being sidelined)