Michael Ariando

Ialibu-Pangia Returning Officer, Michael Ariando, told Loop PNG this morning that all ballot boxes will be extracted to Mendi today and tomorrow.

Ariando added that about nine ballot boxes in the remote area of Ialibu-Pangia will be extracted today to Ialibu station before transporting them to Mendi.

He said the weather pattern in the province has also affected polling, which resulted in the late extraction of the ballot boxes.

However, despite the late polling in some areas, voting has been peaceful since Sunday, July 2.

This includes the sitting member and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill who nominated last Friday to retain his seat.

Returning officer, Michael Ariando is expecting one or two more nominations before the close at 4:06pm today.

Ariando is looking at least 11 candidates for the Ialibu Pangia electorate this election compared to 2012 when the total number of candidates contesting was just 8, one of the lowest in the country.

Nominations up there he says has been quiet as the nomination week winds down.