2022 National General Elections

“I call upon Prime Minister and Tari Pori MP, James Marape to explain the lapse in the security which has seen the fraudulent diversion of sensitive election materials in Enga, Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces. This is happening under his watch and he must explain why this is carried out in the three provinces where his voters are directly domicile in or share borders with.’

International election observers have an important role in elections across the world as their observations improve the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.

The role of international election observers is to provide a comprehensive, independent and impartial assessment of all aspects of the electoral process.

PNG Electoral Commissioner, Simon Sinai, has accredited the international election observers who are part of the international election observation effort. All international election observers have received an identification card from the PNGEC.

Just this month, the Electoral Commissioner revoked the appointment of Esia Batu as Finschhafen’s Returning Officer (RO), and replaced him with the head teacher of Ogeranang Primary School, Kawage Mesere.

Since this month's revocation of Batu, 26 out of the 27 Finschhafen candidates and their supporters have been disputing the change, claiming it to be foul play and in the interest of one of the candidates.

The candidates have been meeting with officials at the Morobe Electoral Commission office since last week to air their grievances.

Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen said good moral and ethical standards in leaders are a real problem in the country today.

“The Ombudsman Commission statistics show more than 100 leaders from different sectors of the government have been investigated and referred to the Public Prosecutor for prosecution since independence,” Pagen said.

“There is a need to elect good leaders during the upcoming National Election in 2022,” he added.

Morobe’s provincial program advisor for education, Keith Tangui, said polling will not affect students’ learning as it was already factored into the 2022 academic calendar.

“The students will be home for two weeks of holiday, and that is the polling period,” said Tangui.

“The Electoral Commission has written to the Department of Education, to our Minister and the Secretary for Education, Dr Uke Kombra, especially for appointment of teachers to be polling officials for this election.

The total number of candidates for Eastern Highlands Province stands at 392. Of these, there are 381 male candidates and 10 female.

The Chimbu Province has recorded 335 candidates, 328 male and 7 female. Jiwaka Province recorded 117 candidates; 114 male and 3 female candidates.

Meantime, PNG Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says 2022 National General Election campaigns will end this week and all public rallies and campaigning will officially stop on Friday 1 July 2022 and voting will commence on Monday July 4th 2022.

He said candidates have this week to polish up and do their final campaigning.

Sinai said all campaign activities including movement of people and staging rallies will end on Friday. He urged candidates to observe and respect electoral laws by removing loud hailers and speakers mounted on their vehicles after Friday in readiness for polling which starts on 4 July 2022.

The Commissioner said polling will not be conducted on Saturday and Sunday (July 2-3), as these are considered days of worship and is protected by law.

Acting Judge Gertrude Tamade, in delivering her judgement this morning, said Mr. Wobiro has lost his right as a candidate.

 “I am of the view that Mr Wobiro does not have an arguable case as yet until the Supreme Court grants him leave to apply for Slip Rule,” she said.

“Mr Wobiro's conviction and sentence still stands without a free pardon.

“I accept the submissions by the Electoral Commission that as of 4:06 pm on 23 June 2022, Mr Wobiro is no longer a candidate as per the Electoral Commissioner's lawful authority to reject his nomination,” she added.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC), Jacob Singura, said their 186 officers are waiting for a boost in manpower from the Correctional Services (CS) and PNG Defence Force (PNGDF).

“We are still awaiting the final formal release from the Police Commissioner’s office for the engagement of Defence Force soldiers and CS officers,” he outlined.

“They will have to be formally released for their engagement as special constables; powers that will be bestowed on them through the Commissioner.

The PNGDF Landing Craft left the shores of Port Moresby last Monday 20 June. Royal PNG Constabulary Acting Officer-In-Charge for Transport Sergeant Manu Volu received the vehicles at the Lae wharf. The vehicles will be used in Mt Hagen, Western Highlands Province, to provide security during the poling and counting period.

HMPNGS Lakekamu then left Lae for Popondetta, in Northern Province, to deliver two RPNGC patrol boats for election security operations.