Couple contest in Bougainville election

A COUPLE in Bougainville has created history by contesting for their respective constituency seats in this year’s ABG General Election.
Businessman Martin Miriori is contesting the Ioro constituency seat in the Panguna district of Central Bougainville while his wife Scholastica is eyeing the Tsitalato constituency seat in Buka.
Mr Miriori, who is the elder brother of the late ABG president, Joseph Kabui, has been unsuccessfully contesting the ABG presidential seat in the past elections.
This time he is putting his hands up to contest in his constituency.
Their nominations this week was historical as no couple has contested their respective constituency seats in the same election over the past years.
Apart from this couple, another historical feature is the number of Catholic priests that are contesting in this election.
Fr Joseph Nabuai had created history in 2013 as the first serving priest to be voted into the ABG parliament following his election victory during the by-election of the Lule constituency seat in South Bougainville.
Fr Nabuai will be defending his seat in this election, but this time he will be joined by two other serving priests.
Former Vicar-General of the Bougainville Catholic Diocese, Fr John Bosco Kensi is contesting the Atolls constituency seat in North Bougainville while Fr Simon Dumarinu is eyeing the top post-the presidential seat.
Fr Bosco hails from Carterets Island while Fr Simon Dumarinu comes from the Ioro constituency in the Panguna district of Central Bougainville.
Another interesting highlight of this election is two brothers trying their luck by nominating to contest in their constituency seat.
Candidate Jerry Kavop and his younger brother Kout are contesting the Tonsu constituency seat in Buka Island.

New Dawn FM