The last electorate from Central Province to start the counting for their electorate, the Goilala counting have taken that challenge head on and in after just 2 days of counting, their team are ready to proceed to the exclusion process.
In total, 84 ballot boxes, 42 each for the provincial and the open seat were breezed through by the counting officials. According to the Goilala Open Assistant Returning Officer, Mr. Kisito Samuel, it was not without issues but they have successfully pulled through and today moved on to the quality check for the open seat boxes.
Today they have proceeded to the exclusions. Just like other centres in the country facing petitions, the Goilala counting officials are no exception. Yesterday candidates contesting the seat petitioned Mr. Maia, demanding that he replace the counting officials with persons neutral to the electorate.
A distressed Mr. Maia then addressed the candidates and supporters, advising them procedures of the counting process and that these sort of demands are unreasonable.
“Both my ARO and I addressed the candidates and their supporters and I’m glad they are now satisfied. We can now get back to conducting the quality checks,” he said.
He also advised that should the candidates still have grievances, there are other avenues that they can seek out. All in all, the Mr. Maia is optimistic that they will be able to declare a candidate for the electorate on Monday.