Francis Potape

His lawyer Philip Ame filed a stay application on June 8 to ask the court to stay the National Court decision, one day after Justice Collin Makail found his election null and void.

His election as Governor by the Hela Provincial Assembly members was declared illegal by the National Court for the third time.

The urgent stay application came before the Supreme Court this morning however, Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia said there was no urgency in the application being moved today.

He adjourned the application to next Monday at 3pm, where it will be moved.

The week also saw the issue over the Hagen Returning officer come before the Supreme Court for hearing, a day after candidates disrupted flights into Mt Hagen.

The week ended with the Chief Justice visiting the Bereina district in Central for the first time to see for himself the next project where the Judiciary will be upgrading its facilities.

Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape’s election by members of the Hela Provincial Assembly as Hela Governor  was declared void by the Waigani National Court the third time on Wednesday.

With just 17 days to go to before polling, the Waigani National Court today handed down its ruling on the ongoing tussle between Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP Philip Undialu and Komo-Margarima MP Francis Potape, over the governor’s post.

This is the third time the court has declared Potape’s election as Governor illegal.

The National Court on 14 June 2016 declared his elections on 29 December 2015 illegal.

With the issue of writs set to take place on April 20, the issue of the governor’s seat has been the subject of legal battle since the death of the later Governor Anderson Agiru on April 28, 2016.

Lawyers representing Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP, Philip Undialu and Komo-Margarima Francis Potape who was purportedly elected governor presented arguments in court before Justice Collin Makail on Monday.

He reserved his ruling to a later date after hearing submissions.

This case was filed by Undialu and is substantively asking the court to nullify Potape’s election.

Representative of the Governor’s office Tape Pulupe handed over a cheque payment to Hela students Association President Edwin Gayani on Tuesday.

Speaking to the students’, Pulupe said it was a great honor indeed on behalf of the Governor to assist Hela students studying in three institutions in Madang.

“The Governor’s office and the Hela electorate recognised the importance of your education as the future assets of Hela and PNG as a whole, because after you graduated from DWU you will contribute to the socio economic development of PNG,” says Pulupe.

Speaking during the sponsorship announcement of the Hela Wigmen by Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) and the Hela Provincial Government, Potape reiterated the sentiment he made eight years ago.

He said this when commending KPHL and Managing Director, Wapu Sonk, for its support to the rugby league club.

“I made this speech in Kokopo when we signed the UBSA that one day a Papua New Guinea firm must take the place of ExxonMobil.

The weapons included sixty homemade and ten factory made guns that were brought over as the amnesty period nears its deadline.

Two key warring tribal groups, from the Maia tribe in Emberali ward, took the lead and handed over their weapons in what was termed a ‘breakthrough for peace’ in the province.

Hela Governor Francis Potape, who was present with his provincial assembly members, said he will pursue the matter to ensure that a permanent police barracks is stationed at Komo to look after its gas area.

Western Governor Ati Wobiro is serving a prison term of 10 years for misappropriation after he was sentenced on Nov 18.

He was convicted on July 26 for conspiring with two others to establish the Fly Care Foundation between January 1 and December 30, 2013, by using over K7m funding from the provincial government.

He has since filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against his conviction and sentence and the matter is pending in court.

 They said this could be done until until such time the vetting process is done and genuine landowners are identified in their specific provinces.

Hela Governor, Francis Potape, and Southern Highlands Governor, William Powi, said this on TVWAN’s ‘Nau’ Program last night.

Both Governors said as the duly elected leaders of their respective provinces, they could sign on behalf of the unidentified leaders given the looming deadline on December 31.

In a press conference today, Hela Governor Francis Potape, Southern Highlands Governor William Powi and Central Governor Kila Haoda signed the agreement declaring their stand on the vendor financing.

Gulf Governor Havila Kavo was not present and Western Governor Ati Wobiro is currently serving his term at Bomana Correctional institution.

Powi said the landowners have been missing out on the equity and the decision by the government for a vendor financing is a step in the right direction.