2022 National General Elections

Ward 1 at Butaweng started off first after Finschhafen Urban Assistant Returning Officer officially declared it open.

ARO Essau Lilibur said polling for the LLG will run for four days.

Since the polling venue was at the Braun Memorial Hospital, Lilibur had to explain to those who turned up that only members of the community will vote; patients will have to go to their respective wards.

“Yupla kominiti insait lo hia yupla gat neim lo rol, yupla ken kam na vout,” he stated.

He said news from around the country have been mixed, with some reporting quiet and peaceful polling whilst others reported instances of attempted hijacking of the election process as reported in Hela and the Enga Province.

Mr Manning has called on his officers to support one another during this time.

“This is a test for all of us. We do not have the luxury nor the option to give up. Be assured we are doing our level best to maintain the electoral process. We have many servicemen and women who believe in our country and are committed patriotic Papua New Guineans.

Box one, from ward 1, Leron-Wantoat, concluded with incumbent MP, Koni Iguan, starting out in front with 521 votes.

Iguan, who is a United Labour Party candidate, is followed by Gengewe Gangik on 247 votes, Maxwell Chiru with 31, Paul Ezekiel with 8 votes and Tom Francis with 5 votes.

Results for count 1 for regional are:

Assistant Returning Officer for Kamano, Dani Sikive said time is not on their side as they try to distribute the ballot papers to various polling venues.

Mr Sikive said while candidates have raised concerns that many of their supporters don't have names in the electoral roll, polling officials will try their best to finish all the polling today in preparation for  counting.

Polling locations in North Ambenob yet to complete polling are Amele, Efu, Fulumu and Alopa. Transport was a major hindrance to their work. Mr. Sakipa said there were not enough vehicles to speed up the transportation of ballot boxes and polling officials to polling stations, and back to Madang town. This resulted in polling being dragged into the second week.

The second major challenge being faced by voting officials is missing voter names. Polling was stalled because voters argued with polling officials, demanding an explanation before polling could continue.

Ulapapia said 48 teams for Wewak are ready for counting, Maprik counting hopefully begins tomorrow, Wosera-Gawi expects the last team to return to their hub today, Ambunti-Drekikir will extract its last teams by today and the expect all teams for Yangoru-Saussia to return today.

He said East Sepik plans to start counting on Thursday 14 July.

PRO Ulapapia also mentioned that a court injunction was taken out by scrutineers and candidates for Wewak Open, against the decision of the Wewak Open Returning Officer’s choice of venue for counting.  

Returning officer Darius Kunai officially opened counting at 12pm today.

Twenty-seven ballot boxes for Kokopo District will be counted. Eight from Bitapaka LLG, five from Duke of York LLG, nine from Vunamami LLG and five from Raluana LLG.

Twenty-eight candidates have contested the Kokopo Open seat. They wait in anticipation as their fate is being decided by the people.

More updates to come.

Polling was completed last Friday and all 36 ballot boxes were transported back to Rabaul on Friday and locked away.

Yesterday ballot boxes for the provincial seat were escorted to Kokopo.

Rabaul Returning Officer, Babel Umri declared counting open at 9.17 this morning, the first three ballot boxes were escorted from Rabaul Police Station to the counting venue.

He believes counting will run smoothly as witnessed during polling last week except for complaints of missing names on the electoral roll. 

Telape said the frustrated people of Hagen Central blocked off the highway and are demanding the reinstatement of Willie Ropa as the Returning Officer for Hagen Open.

Mr Telape told this newsroom that he will get more verification on the situation.

He was accompanied by his predecessor Roy Yaki and Sir Nathaniel Poiya.

Although Ialibu Pangia electorate voted, Imbonggu, Kagua Erave, Nipa Kutubu and Mendi polling was deferred to today.

Southern Highlands Election officials say the late distribution and  confusion in the list of polling officials was the cause of voting delays in most parts of the province. Polling went ahead as districts received their ballot papers. Security in the province remains on high alert.