Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato has halted the count of the five disputed ballot boxes in the 2012 national general election for Kandep Open in Enga province. This follows the latest turn of events in which the Waigani Supreme Court reinstated Don Polye as Kandep MP. PNGEC staff tasked to conduct the count were already on the ground in Wabag doing preparations.

A by-election for the vacant South Bougainville Open seat in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville officially comes into operation today (26 May 2016) following the issue of writ by the Governor General. PNGEC has already received funding of K2.5 million for the by-election and necessary preparations are being made in the electorate and in Port Moresby to conduct the by-election.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato today (26 June 2016) returned the writ for the recently concluded Samarai-Murua by-election in Milne Bay province to the Governor General to officially end the by-election program. Ousted Member and the ruling PNC Party candidate Gordon Wesley reclaimed the Samarai-Murua Open Seat when he was declared winner on 17 May 2016 by the Returning Officer Dadu Daga.

A by-election for the vacant South Bougainville Open seat in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will come into operation as of next week following the approval of the by-election program by the Governor General. Electoral Commissioner’s Delegate John Kalamoroh announced today that the writ for the South Bougainville by-election will be issued next week Thursday 26 May 2016.

Ousted Member of Parliament and the ruling People’s National Congress Party candidate Gordon Wesley has reclaimed the Samarai-Murua Open Seat following his declaration at 6:48 pm last night (Tuesday 17 May 2017) by the Returning Officer Dadu Daga. The Samarai-Murua Member-elect was declared at the counting center at the Cameron Secondary School hall in Alotau.

PNG Electoral Commission is still waiting for responses from the Solicitor General’s Office and Attorney General’s Office for a second legal opinion on the position of the Commission to conduct the referendum for students at UPNG Waigani main campus and Taurama campus. Initial legal advice was for PNGEC to conduct the referendum.