By Jina Amba
THE 21 men who have been elected as councillors in Banz Local Level Government elections in Jiwaka Province want to be sworn in so that they can start work as leaders of their people.
Claiming to be rightful ward councillors, they have called on Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen to give them the time and date to be sworn in.
The Electoral Commissioner has declared Banz LLG elections as failed elections, but these councillors are claiming that they are the people’s choice and they were all declared councillors before Electoral Commissioner declared Banz LLG as failed election.
According to the Banz LLG assistant returning officer (ARO), John Onimga, a report
has been filed and is ready to be given to the Electoral Commissioner.
The report stated that Banz LLG never experienced major problems such as hijacking of ballot boxes or election related violence, rather it was a generally peaceful election.
The report also stated that out of 23 council wards in Banz LLG, 21 council wards were declared while two council wards – Kimil ward 2 and Bolimba ward 1 – did not have councillors because their ballot boxes were destroyed during polling.
Spokesperson and Kendu ward 2 councillor Robert Anamp said the writ had been signed and they were asking Mr Trawen to give permission to the Jiwaka Governor, the Election Steering Committee and the Provincial Administrator for them to work together and deliver services to the people of Jiwaka.
Councillor Anamp said they were ready to form a caretaker government until the supplementary election and a new president is elected.
He also said the 21 councillors were standing firm on their grounds, saying that they were not going for a supplementary election.
“The people have voted us in and we are here to serve our people,” Mr Anamp said.
Another spokesperson and Banz Town councillor, Komnom Manye, said currently people were disrespecting the declared councillors and a lot of problems like drugs, homebrew, fights and other crimes were increasing in their communities because there was no councillor to control these situations.
These men, who claim that they have been declared, are stillwaiting for the Election Manager, Rossie Pandi, to give her report to the Electoral Commissioner and a copy to the councillors.
Civil Society chairman, Peter Marang, is supporting the ARO’s report, saying that no major problems were faced during the LLG elections for Banz.
Mr Marang said the declared councillors have already started playing their roles as councillors and he is calling on Mr Trawen to give them permission to have the councillors sworn in.
THE 21 men who have been elected as councillors in Banz Local Level Government elections in Jiwaka Province want to be sworn in so that they can start work as leaders of their people.
Claiming to be rightful ward councillors, they have called on Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen to give them the time and date to be sworn in.
The Electoral Commissioner has declared Banz LLG elections as failed elections, but these councillors are claiming that they are the people’s choice and they were all declared councillors before Electoral Commissioner declared Banz LLG as failed election.
According to the Banz LLG assistant returning officer (ARO), John Onimga, a report
has been filed and is ready to be given to the Electoral Commissioner.
The report stated that Banz LLG never experienced major problems such as hijacking of ballot boxes or election related violence, rather it was a generally peaceful election.
The report also stated that out of 23 council wards in Banz LLG, 21 council wards were declared while two council wards – Kimil ward 2 and Bolimba ward 1 – did not have councillors because their ballot boxes were destroyed during polling.
Spokesperson and Kendu ward 2 councillor Robert Anamp said the writ had been signed and they were asking Mr Trawen to give permission to the Jiwaka Governor, the Election Steering Committee and the Provincial Administrator for them to work together and deliver services to the people of Jiwaka.
Councillor Anamp said they were ready to form a caretaker government until the supplementary election and a new president is elected.
He also said the 21 councillors were standing firm on their grounds, saying that they were not going for a supplementary election.
“The people have voted us in and we are here to serve our people,” Mr Anamp said.
Another spokesperson and Banz Town councillor, Komnom Manye, said currently people were disrespecting the declared councillors and a lot of problems like drugs, homebrew, fights and other crimes were increasing in their communities because there was no councillor to control these situations.
These men, who claim that they have been declared, are stillwaiting for the Election Manager, Rossie Pandi, to give her report to the Electoral Commissioner and a copy to the councillors.
Civil Society chairman, Peter Marang, is supporting the ARO’s report, saying that no major problems were faced during the LLG elections for Banz.
Mr Marang said the declared councillors have already started playing their roles as councillors and he is calling on Mr Trawen to give them permission to have the councillors sworn in.
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