Chairman of the Inter-Departmental Election Committee, Ivan Pomaleu, has clarified candidates’ ineligibility to contest the 2022 National General Elections. Mr Pomaleu said the Constitutional Electoral Reform of 2002 provides that a person who has been convicted of any indictable offence after the insertion of this law, is not eligible to contest these general elections or subsequent elections. “The law permanently disqualified a candidate for becoming a Member of Parliament. A person convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than nine (9) months, from 2002 to current, is disqualified from contesting.” Mr Pomaleu further clarified that the PNG Electoral Commission should not allow such persons to nominate for public office as this makes mockery of and undermines the country’s electoral process. Mr Pomaleu also emphasised on the laws covering dual citizenship of candidates, adding that Section 50 of the Constitution provides the right to vote and stand for public office. “However, despite this provision that provides the freedom to vote and stand for election, it has now been amended in 2014.” Mr Pomaleu said under the amendment, a person who has dual citizenship of another country is ineligible to contest. Mr Pomaleu further explained the laws on endorsement of candidates, saying that under Section 60 of the Organic Law on Integrity of Political Parties, does not allow a registered political party to endorse more than one candidate in each electorate. “A registered political party who endorses more than one candidate in an electorate, is guilty and is fined K5, 000,” he said.