Heavy police presence secures Kabwum by-election polling amidst threats to hijack ballot papers

Rumors that ballot papers of the Kabwum by-election will be hijacked has been dismissed.

Security has been beefed up and strengthened to ensure polling proceeds as ordered by the Supreme court.

Speaking to NBC News, the Morobe Elections Manager Simon Soheke confirmed that polling has entered its second day for the Selepet Local Level Government [LLG], and will commence for the other three LLGs, the Yus, Deyamos and Komba LLGs starting today.

Responding to reports of disruptions by supporters of certain candidates, Soheke sounded a stern warning to the would be troublemakers, emphasizing that his officers and the law enforcers on the ground are on high alert.

“Disruptions will not be entertained. Kabwum has been without an MP for two going on three years now,” he said. “My appeal to the people is to follow due process and elect your member to represent you in Parliament until the next National Elections in 2027.”

Enforcing this message is the Acting Provincial Police Commander, Yawongan Yonga who’s already stationed in Kabwum. Yonga also dismissed rumors stating that the ballot papers will be hijacked in the Deyamos and Yus LLGs, and warned the people against any attempts to interfere in the election process.

“People of Kabwum, think twice before you try anything,” Commander Yonga warned. “My men are on alert, especially after the experience of the 2022 National Elections. Anyone caught disrupting the process will be charged with contempt of court for defying the judicial order allowing this by-election to proceed,” he said.

To avoid what happened in the 2022 National Elections from repeating where ballot papers were burnt, police personnel have been deployed since Monday with 26 officers travelling in with the polling teams carrying the ballot boxes.

An additional 48 police personnel were dispatched on board the MV Sulu Express with five police vehicles yesterday, with another 51 officers expected to be deployed today, bringing the total police presence in Kabwum to one hundred and twenty five [125].

While security remains tight, concerns have also been raised that illegal cross-border voting is likely to take place, if people cross over from Teptep village in the neighboring Madang Province.

Mr Soheke confirmed, that police personnel have been strategically deployed across all four LLGs to monitor and address any suspicious movement or unlawful voting activity, especially in the ward 9, 10, 11 and 12 areas.

Soheke said, initially soldiers from the PNG Defence Force were scheduled to assist, but the deployment was scrapped following the uncertain delay in funding from the National Government.

Thanks to the Morobe Provincial Government for the emergency support of K500,000, his office was able to have the police deployed to Kabwum on the set date, for the smooth polling for the 11 candidates contesting for the district’s seat.