YANGORU SAUSIA ELECTION

THE National Court in Wewak has restrained the Electoral Commission (E.C) from counting ballot papers for Wewak until further court orders. Acting Judge Taunamo Micah Rei issued the order last Friday following applications made by candidates Raphael Saulep (Independent), Stanley Muts Samban (Papua New Guinea Party) and Jerry Junembary (People’s Transformation Party). Judge Rei also restrained the Electoral Commission from counting ballot papers for Wewak in the six proposed counting centres until further orders. The six proposed counting centres for Wewak are: Wewak Island, Dagua, Boikin, Wewak Local, Wewak Urban and Turubu. The matter returns to court on Monday. Saulep, Samban and Junembary filed the case on the grounds that the counting of ballot papers for Wewak open in six separate counting centres is unjustifiable, unreasonable and is inconsistent with the EC’s duty to ensure the integrity of the counting for Wewak. According to the originating summons, the trio are seeking the National Court to compel the EC to arrange a single counting centre. Wewak Returning Officer Vincent Kavi, Provincial Returning Officer Thaddeus Ulapapik and the EC were named as defendants in the case. Wewak is contested by 35 candidates. East Sepik’s other six seats are Ambunti-Dreikikir, Angoram, East Sepik Provincial, Maprik, Wosera-Gaui and Yangoru-Saussia. Yangoru Sausia Returning Officer fail to make a quality check before elimination count. He is also a first time returning officer masses up the electoral count. On Tuesday 19th July 2022 the 16 Scrutineers of 16 candidates walked out after learning that in the counting were some extra balot papers. A petition was than presented by 16 candidates of Yangoru Sausia for him to recount and make quality checks. He refuses to make quality check. According to L.P.V Counting system there must be quality check before continuing the elimination. Currently he was suspended and was banned to enter Regional counting vanue. And the R.O in maprik will step into his position as acting R.O for Yangoru sausia to count Regional Boxes. If he the boxes did not balance up with Open balot papers. It will be a fail election for Yangoru Sausia and the R.O will be arrested for Official corruption.