Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission

Returning Officer for Kandep in the 2012 national general elections Naepet Keae and the Election Manager for Enga Henry Kyakas have been referred to police for investigation. The Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato in a letter dated 4 May, 2016 to Police Commissioner Gari Baki made the referral formally requesting police to investigate and lay appropriate charges against the duo.

The PNG Electoral Commission has agreed to recognize the National Court order issued yesterday (3 May, 2016) to count the five disputed ballot boxes for Kandep Open electorate that were excluded from count in the 2012 National General Election and will conform to it. This is after the National Court on 2 May set aside Kandep MP Don Polye's victory in the 2012 election and ordered PNGEC to count the five excluded ballot boxes.

The Samarai Murua by-election is currently progress well with no major incidents reported since polling started 27 April. Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato said polling in the Yeleyamba, Louisiade, and Bwanabwana Rural LLGs is expected to complete as scheduled on 6 May, 2016 according to the three Assistant Returning Officers.

Polling for the vacant Samarai-Murua Open electorate in Milne Bay Province is progressing well. Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says polling is in full operation now in all the four LLGs - Louisiade, Yeleyamba, Murua and Bwanabwana - after it was delayed by two days due to the late arrival of election materials in Alotau.

The PNG Electoral Commission will apply strict measures on the use of electoral funds to ensure that previous issues regarding funding are not repeated. Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato pointed out that accountability of public funds was important. He said poor management and control of electoral funds in the past had resulted in ​outstanding bills totaling K59 million which the Commission has yet to settle.

Communication between the PNG Electoral Commission and all its key stakeholders during the time period leading up to the commencement of the 2017 National and LLG elections program is very important. Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says the Commission needs to establish and main communication with all its key stakeholders.