The National Capital District (NCD) Election Manager Mr. Kila Ralai has re-assured the residents of the city that he will continue in his role until the 2022 National General Election is complete.
Mr. Ralai made this announcement after taking questions and criticism from the candidates from Moresby North- East on the way he as the election manager, is managing the election process that has resulted in a further delay to polling.
Initially he intended to resign as NCD Election Manager, but as things calmed down and with the blessing of the candidates, Mr. Ralai said he will continue his duty to ensure everything goes smoothly going forward.
“The candidates and everybody supported me so I will not resign, I will be provincial returning officer and election manager for NCD,” said the election manager.
Even though the candidates called for his resignation as the election manager, it was critical he remains because to appoint a new election manager would take time and that would lead to further delay of the election process, which is something everyone don’t want right now.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day the Returning Officer (RO) for Moresby North- East had to verbally make known his intention to resign from the position due to pressure from the poor preparation of polling teams which led to the further delay of the polling in the electorate.
However, the candidates when meeting with the election manager and his team, requested for the RO to be put back into his position. Most of the candidates said the RO has done an excellent job so far that they would rather have him handling matters than having someone else whom they don’t really know.
Mr. Ralai further re-assured the candidates that he will make it his business to have the RO returned as soon as possible so that the election teams can finalize the ballots before polling takes place on a new date, which now Monday 11th July.