PNG Election: Candidates go to court to stop Wapenamanda Counting
The Sitting Member for Wapenamanda, Rimbink Pato and two other candidates are seeking interim orders from the National Court in Waigani to stop the counting of ballot boxes for the electorate in the province.
Lawyer appearing on behalf of the plaintiffs, Nathan Pilamb made the application verbally as a matter of urgency.
He submitted that word on the ground is that the Election Manager for Enga or the Returning Officer for Wapenamanda have brought the ballot boxes to the counting venue, in preparation for counting to begin this afternoon.
Mr. Pilamb claims that this is despite a lawful directive from the Electoral Commissioner on July 19th, 2022 to transfer all the ballot boxes for Enga to Jiwaka Province, for scrutiny and counting, because of security reasons.
Therefore, they are seeking interim injunctions to stop counting in the Province and for the Court to give effect to the Electoral Commissioner’s directive, to be complied with.
Justice Joseph Yagi will make a ruling on this matter tomorrow afternoon (Thursday 21.07.22).
NBC / PNG Today
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