National General Elections

Milne Bay Provincial Returning Officer Ivan Maraka said Milne Bay began its count with Kiriwina Good Enough starting on Saturday at the Alotau Catholic Diocese Hall.

The Regional and Esaala counting was conducted at Huhu Informal Market, Samarai Murua at Strang Hall, Cameron Secondary School on Sunday, while Alotau counting got underway at the Alice Wedega Basketball Court yesterday (Monday 18^th July).

The member was declared after 2:30pm on Monday, 18^th July after primary count 55, polling 11, 949 votes at the West Mamusi Council Chamber.

“Pomio has been known for conducting as a free, fair and safe elections since 1975 and I appeal that we continue this,” said an elated Kapavore.

“I want to thank you my people of Pomio for giving me this mandate. I will do my best for you in the next five years,” he added.

The Commissioner has reaffirmed Police efforts to look into criminal complaints saying “I have no other interest than to ensure that the election is done transparently and in a safe and secure environment”. 
  
According to Commissioner Manning, he had received a written complaint from a candidate in Ialibu-Pangia Open electorate, including witness statements, claiming that over 12,500 ballot papers for the Kagua-Erave Open Electorate were allegedly hijacked during polling and stuffed in the ballot boxes of nearby Ialibu-Pangia Electorate.
 

Community liaison officer, Sam Muzoki, said team 95 started polling last Wednesday, July 13^th, at Kasanga, ward 7.

“Wan nait lo hap, neks dei mipla kam lo Malasiga.

“Lo Fraide, mipla gat problem lo weather, so had lo mipla trevol i kam olsem lo hia so mipla no bin mekim polling.

“Fraide avinun mipla go lo Busiga. Saturday mipla kondaktim ileksen lo Busiga.”

The team rested on Sunday, then walked to Mange in the afternoon.

Yesterday morning, Mange started polling.

Sakipa added that they are yet to train the counting officials because the logistical support for this is slow in coming through. 
 
Meantime, Madang Provincial Police Commander Acting Superintendent Mazuc Rubiang has been receiving situation reports from police personnel attached with polling teams. He said most of the districts in Madang have completed polling. Polling in Nayudo LLG in Rai Coast and Gama LLG in Usino Bundi were the only delays as polling teams in these areas needed to be airlifted. 
 

Frustration started mounting when voters found out that their names were not on the electoral roll.

Hundreds of residents turned on the counting officials, who ran away for fear of their safety.

The crowd then grabbed the election materials, smashed ballot boxes and burnt the ballot papers.

An eyewitness told this newsroom that a tractor was also burnt while the Electoral Commission container was ransacked.

The petitioners led by candidates, Felix Kua and Dacca Wagai presented their appeal to Provincial Returning Officer, Emily Kelton, calling for a recount of the Hoskins LLG ballot boxes

Kua said that they want to clear up certain matters regarding counting, and with the amount of effort, they have put into ensuring this election runs smoothly and safely, it is necessary to ensure there will be a newly elected member.

These are the results after the first two counts for Manus Regional first five:

1. Charlie Benjamin leads - 276
2. George Sikin - 126
3. James Kiele – 111
4. Kepo Pomat - 57
5. David Aussel - 36

Counts for the Manus Open seat first five:

1. Leslie Roai - 348
2. Job Pomat – 260
3. Dr. Peter Petsul – 45
4. Rodney Pokapin – 23
5. Ronny Knight – 23

Day two of the counting is underway with ballot papers from the Balopa LLG. 

Counting for Maprik and Yangoru Sausia have started with Wewak and other four electorates soon to.

“Our fuel issue has been solved looking good but chopper has failed Angoram team still waiting for extraction,” Ulapapia said.

According to the Provincial Returning Officer, counting venues for East Sepik Regional and Wewak open will be at Moem Army Barracks Sergeant mass and Theature Audio visal building respectively, while Maprik Electorate will hold their counting at the Maprik LLG Chambers.

Bulolo Open

1. Sam Basil Jnr – 1,907
2. Russel Yakam – 664
3. Greg Konjip – 459
4. Noel Zasu – 245
5. Tae Guambelek – 172

Morobe Regional

1. Kemas Tomala – 1,711
2. Luther Wenge – 546
3. Joshua Menos – 414
4. Ginson Saonu – 386
5. Jennifer Baing – 219

Counting was suspended at 9pm yesterday (July 15^th). It is set to resume today (July 16^th) in Bulolo district.