Form 29

O’Neill said the Form 29 was just to assist the Electoral Commissioner to have a clear indication of the intending candidates wishing to contest.

He clarified that the official form to allow intending candidates to contest the elections was the Nomination form.

He said the Nomination form was entirely dependent  on the candidates to choose which party to align with in the coming elections.

“Nobody is going to force the candidate to sign which party they will be contesting under as it is an individual choice that is guaranteed by law.”

He said this in respone to Opposition Leader, Don Polye, alleging that the issue of Form 29 before the issue of writs was illegal.

Gamato told Loop PNG that there was no law stopping him and that the issuing of Form 29 was an administrative process.

“The Form 29 is allowed by law. Under the Election regulation we can complete the Forms before the nomination. Its not nomination.

“But for purposes of administration management of the Form 29 and bringing in candidate bio-data we can its all the regulation says. So it’s within law,” said Gamato.