Counting Period

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

Counting covered Vunabuk, Rakival and Vunakabai wards of Watom LLG with the progressive total from the last box will be transferred to 66b for exclusion.

The progressive results for the first five candidates are:

1. Dr Allan Marat                                 4,317
2. Graham Piniau Rument                 2,669
3. Raymond Paulias                            2,344
4. Wayne Coleman Tamsak              1,281
5. Taupa Puipui                                     999

Provincial Returning Officer Emily Kelton said Nakanai Open electorate has completed polling and will be the first to begin counting. 

"I'm allowing for Wednesday purposely to have the presiding officers to complete their journals and the reports and then we start counting on Wednesday 8am sharp and then continue on till complete. This will be followed by Talasea and then Kandrian Gloucester. The Provincial (seat) will be the last," said PRO Kelton.

Counting started at 8.30 this morning. The first ballot box, box 19, was from Watom LLG. Box 19 was polled by Team 133 at Vunaulaiar, Rau, Taranata and Valaur.

The progressive results for the first five are as follows:

Recent results for the first five after Count 10 are as follows:

1. Dr. Allan Marat – 2783
2. Raymond Paulias – 1618
3. Graham Piniau Rumet – 1460
4. Wayne Coleman Tamsak – 827
5. Taupa Puipui - 719

Twenty (20) boxes brought in for counting covered the following areas, Balanataman- 9 boxes, Kombiu- 6 boxes, Rabaul Urban- 3 and Watom- 2 boxes.

The first box for Box 10 covered Kombiu LLG by team 125- the polling areas were covered were, Nordup, Baai, Matalau and Rakunat resettlement.

Kaupa said that of the 389 candidates contesting in Eastern Highlands, nine are women.
 
"Of the nine women contesting, I just want to tell you that you have stood out for the womenfolk.
This was the opportunity for women to vote. We set the election activity plan for women to have their own polling booth as well the the common roll for women,” Kaupa said.
 
However, he emphasized, “If the womenfolk did not vote well in this election, they should not talk about contesting the elections in the future."
 

The updated progressive results are as follows:

WEST NEW BRITAIN REGIONAL SEATS

1. Willie Edo (Liberal Party) – 3681
2. Garry Baki (PNC) – 3440
3. Sasindran Muthuvel (PANGU) – 2541
4. Mark Lebong (NA) – 1026
5. Rene Reimmann (Independent) – 502

NAKANAI OPEN ELECTORATE

New Ireland Provincial Police Commander, Felix Nebanat, said there was a situation in the morning in relation to yesterday’s wrong tray issue.

Scrutineers alleged that wrong ballot papers were placed in the wrong candidate tray.

“However that was quelled diligently by timely intervention,” stated PPC Nebanat.

“Scores of count 9 for Regional are being put on the board.

“Count 9 for Kavieng Urban LLG, Lavongai LLG and Sentral Niu Ailan LLG for Regional Seat is ongoing while Konoagil LLG is going into quality check this morning.”