Two members of Parliament have joined the ruling Pangu Pati in an announcement made by the Prime Minister yesterday.
The move takes Pangu Pati’s number to 37, following the suspension of another Pangu Pati member by the courts yesterday.
The two MPs include South Bougainville MP and Minister of Information and Communication Technology Timothy Masiu and Bogia MP Robert Naguri.
The two were former members of the National Alliance Party.
Both MPs expressed their move as voluntary and based on their judgement on the current political landscape.
Masiu said he moved because he admired Pangu Pati leader and Prime Minister James Marape’s leadership in the Bougainville issue and also because of his electorate’s long tradition with the party itself.
“The first representative of South Bougainville and Pangu Pati leader before independence was Sir Paul Lapun and my move is simply about going back to where I rightfully belong,” Mr Masiu said.
Naguri also shared the same sentiment in regard to Marape’s leadership in dealing with the Manam Islanders resettlement issue, something that he said past governments and his former party did not actively address.
“I have also sought advice from a very senior member of parliament on the decision and he has advised me to be with the ruling party,” Mr Naguri said.
Marape added that the long awaited Pangu Pati convention will be held at Hilton Hotel this Friday where they will lay down the party’s structure and policies going into the 2022 National General Elections.