2022 National General Elections

Provincial Election Manager Steven Kaupa said training for counting officials for the eight districts was completed yesterday (Monday 18^th July).

“We will count each morning from 8.00am till 9.00pm each day. We will be in full strength tomorrow,” Kaupa told this newsroom.

He said all the ballot boxes from the polling teams have arrived at the National Sports Institute and counting will commence thereafter.

The incumbent MP collected 215 votes after count 9 putting his progressive tally at 1808.

The only female in the top five, Michelle Hau’ofa in fourth after collecting 5 votes in count 9. Her progressive tally is at 120.

1. Justin Tkatchenko – 1808 
2. Charles Kassman – 717
3. S. Kiirilyo – 200
4. Michelle Hau’ofa – 120
5. Peter H Ilau – 14

Count 10 is currently in progress.

Candidate Wayne Coleman who polled 1,515 after the 5^th Exclusion registered the least number of votes, therefore is being eliminated from the contest for the Rabaul Open Seat.

Counting was suspended yesterday with the exclusion of Candidate No.17: David Graham’s 921 at the 4th Exclusion. 

At 9 this morning, Rabaul went into its 5th exclusion removing Candidate No. 16 Taupa Puipui’s from the race.
Yesterday other candidates who commenced the Elimination Process began with Candidate Tukau Ekonia who polled 61 at Primary Counts, followed on the Second elimination by Francis Tavatuna, who received 4 votes from the first exclusion for a progressive of 239 which was the least thus being second to be excluded. 

In yesterday’s media conference Commissioner Simon Sinai said, “I am working with the Police Commissioner, Joint Security Task Force, and other stakeholders to make sure that the integrity of the election is safeguarded.”

He called on leaders and candidates to respect the electoral process and refrain from inciting violence or intervening in the process.

“Those who burn ballot boxes, or schools, or houses; those who have harmed other and those who have threatened election officials hold the rest of our people hostage.

Returning Officer Leo Ameua said counting has been delayed for two days because they are lacking vital materials to begin.

The Total Number of Formal Votes - 13124 and Informal Votes - 651. After the Primary Counts, no candidates has reached the Absolute Majority - 50%+1 (6562+1)

Therefore, Team Rabaul Open electorate will proceed into Quality Checks and commence Elimination until the Absolute Majority is reached and Declaration.

The Result after Counts #: 19 and 20 are as follows;

10. Francis Tavatun                                         04 + 05 = 09

11. Wayne Coleman Tamsak                           94 + 60 = 154

Chairman of the Election Steering Committee for Central Province, Francis Koaba, spoke about the counting process and how the long delay is a norm in the country.

“It is inevitable for all the elections past and current, that we have our short coming in terms of logistical planning. The logistical planning have been undertaken by the Electoral Commission but in close consultation of the Provincial elections steering committee,” Koaba said.

He said that apart from counting, the polling process in the province was a peaceful one.

The latest results follow counting of ballots from Ialakua, Raluana, Vunagi and Talakua.

Progressive results for the first five include;

1. Ereman Tobaining Jnr - 6, 512
2. Emil Tamur - 4, 196
3. Komit Malari - 2983
4. Ekonia Walom - 2393
5. Steven Magil -1166

Morobe’s Provincial Program Advisor for Education, Keith Tangui, said the board has decided that classes will resume on July 25^th, considering teachers are involved in the electoral process, and election-related violence has been increasing.

“A lot of problems are brewing and fighting and burning of ballots and other things so we are giving them 1-week extension today.”

Tangui further spoke of the damages sustained by Markham Valley secondary during the riot on Saturday, saying the Electoral Commission is only hiring the venue.