Candidates are threatening to halt the counting process for the Moresby North-West electorate citing irregularities in the election process.
41 candidates have combined forces to petition the PNG Electoral Commission and have vowed to do all it takes to halt the counting process while calling on the Commission to declare the election a “failed” one.
“We want the Electoral Commission and the Returning Officer to explain to us the basis in which Presiding officers and assistant Presiding officers were replaced by new officers,” said candidate and spokesperson Dr. Thaddeus Kambanei.
The candidates got together to map a way forward and raised their concerns to the media seeking an audience with the Commission to address the candidates.
Dr. Kambanei also raised concerns on behalf of the other candidates for the Commission to centralize the counting centre questioning why PNGEC saw fit to have a counting centre in Hanuabada for ward one counting.
“How is that PNGEC find it so fitting to install a counting centre in an area where a candidate is from?”
“How will you allow accountability and transparency to prevail,” said Kambanei
The candidates raised concerns from their scrutineers who were not allowed to access the counting centre at Hanuabada village.
Meanwhile only female candidate Anna Kavana Bais said the Commission must fix the issues raised by the candidates for transparency and accountability.
She said Moresby North-West by election is just one election; 10 months time will be the National General Elections and how is the commission be able to run a national election if they cannot get the small things right.
