Agiru voted out, Potape is new Hela Governor

Komo Margarima MP Francis Potape was appointed Hela Governor yesterday  by the Provincial Assembly in Tari . 10 out of 14 Hela Provincial Assembly members voted in favour  of Potape.

The local level government presidents who voted for him are Jalo Hape (Upper Wage), Eric Yawas (Hulia), Efala Pape (Mt Bosavi), Thomas Tawi (Tebi), Marakus Kapia (Kopiago), Guluwa Wakinda (Lower Wagi), Charlie Apalu (Awi-Pori and Lagayu) and women leader Jacinta Hayabe.

Waigani National Court also ordered that the court order of December 22 obtained by Agiru to restrain the Assembly from having any meeting was rendered useless because it was served late to the Assembly Members. 

They had already concluded their meeting, passing the motion to vote for a new governor yesterday when the order was delivered. The court asked Agiru's lawyer  to tell the exact time the order was served, She had no definative answer of the time.

Court relied on the affidavit by Tumbi Yari who took down the minutes of the Assembly meeting on December 22. 

It said the meeting concluded on 11:05 and the court order was served at 11:46. Court said the service was late, thus it had no impact on the meeting and thus  Agiru was voted out yesterday but he remains the regional MP but not the governor.

Meanwhile, Mr Potape, as the new Governor and chairman of the provincial assembly, has called on Mr Agiru to further  court orders, adding that his removal followed legal procedures.