Morobe Provincial Administration clarifies Governor seat process amidst by-election calls from LLG Presidents
The Morobe Provincial Administration [MPA] has outlined the official process for electing a new Governor following the passing of the late Luther Akisawa Wenge, while Local Level Government [LLG] presidents have expressed a preference for a by-election.
Provincial Administrator Max Bruten, accompanied by Deputy Administrators Miring Singoling and Robin Bazzinuc, announced that the Morobe Provincial Assembly, or Tutumang, will meet in two to three weeks to elect a new Governor.
Bruten said the short delay allows time for the province to complete mourning for the late Governor Wenge, who was widely respected as the “Defender of the Constitution” and “Leader of the small people.”
“We already have the voting process in place to which members of the National Parliament will also attend to observe, but first we want to give our people time to end their mourning properly,” Bruten said.
The MPA clarified that, under Section 34(2) of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments [OLPGLLG], current LLG Presidents remain eligible to sit in the Tutumang and vote until the return of writs for the upcoming LLG elections.
It was also explained that Members of Parliament who wish to contest the Governor's seat must first resign from their current seats before becoming eligible to run.
Meanwhile, LLG presidents said they would prefer a by-election, saying that with 21 months remaining before the 2027 National Election, Morobeans should be given the chance to elect their next Governor through the ballot.
Chairman of Government Business and Watut LLG President Waka Daimon said,“We want the people to vote us back as the LLG Presidents, and the people should also be given the chance to vote for a Governor of their choice. I am therefore calling on the office of the Prime Minister and the office of the Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, that we have a petition on hand to restrain this election process if it isn’t a by-election".
Bruten said that the MPA is the only authorized office to make decisions on the matter and will act in consultation with the National Government, as required under Section 21 of the OLPGLLG.