No counting today for Kabwum by-election due to disputed ballot box

Counting didn’t take place today for the Kabwum by-election, over a disputed ballot box for the Yus Local Level Government [LLG].

The Kabwum by-election's Returning Officer [RO], James Neapukali made known, that the disputed ballot box contains two ballot papers with votes from two sick people, that the scrutineers have disagreements on.

Mr Neapukali said all other votes in that ballot box shouldn’t have to be disqualified just because of these two [2] votes, but then again, the candidates’ scrutineers have to meet with them to discuss this.

He said counting was supposed to go straight into quality checks today, but candidates’ scrutineers who disputed the ballot box yesterday in the primary counts, didn’t want to enter the counting venue at the Sir Ignatius Kilage indoor Stadium.

“We asked the scrutineers to come into the counting center this morning but they didn’t come in. We went back to check on them at midday and they told us that they were waiting for responses from their candidates,” the RO said.

Neapukali told NBC News, that the officials checked on the scrutineers again at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and were told, that they demand for the Provincial Elections Manager, Simon Soheke and himself as the Returning officer to step aside.

“There is no petition in black and white and even if there is, it has no power to stop the progress of counting for this by-election that the Supreme court has ordered. So, unless and only if they come with a court order for the Elections Manager and I to step aside, I as the RO will not allow further interruptions to the counting process,” he said.

Neapukali went on to say counting will resume tomorrow as planned and go into the quality checks, and then proceed to the exclusion or elimination process.

“My appeal to the candidates, is please come forward and talk to us. The people of Kabwum have voted and need a leader, we are only facilitating the counting process here in Lae for transparency’s sake.”

He continued to explain that majority of the counting officials are from within Lae City so that they will remain neutral, and the process is also allowing candidates’ scrutineers to stand together with counting officials in the counting booths to watch as they count.

“We’ve tried to be as transparent as much as possible and I don’t see anything wrong so again, unless if they come with a court order to go with their demand, we will proceed with counting tomorrow whether the scrutineers turn up or not.”

He said if they don’t want to turn up, the will proceed to have police officers stand witness in tomorrow’s counting.

Counting was suspended at 3pm this afternoon.