WHP LLG Candidates Not Happy

 

 

 

 

Candidates contesting the local level government elections in Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province, are not happy with the way the elections were conducted.

 

They claimed proper procedures were not followed in the polling areas, which resulted in double voting, hijacking of ballot boxes, and even selling of ballot papers to candidates.

A petition will be presented to the Western Highlands election Manager Philip Talepe to have this issue addressed.

 

A convoy of vehicles with some disappointed candidates for ward councils and presidents told the public in Mt Hagen that the 2013 LLG Elections were not transparent.

 

They assembled at the Queens Park Oval to express their concerns and called on the Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen to declare it as a failed election.

 

Three term Hagen rural LLG President and deputy governor for Western Highlands Province, Wai Rapa, who is defending his seat was vocal amongst the candidates.

 

He said leaders should be elected through a democratic and transparent system.

 

They have petitioned the electoral commission with an eight point facts about the running of the election in Western Highlands Province.

 

At the same time counting continue in Hagen Central and other parts of Western Highlands with some winners declared.

 

Other candidates have agreed that the counting should proceed without further disruption.