By-elections in Papua New Guinea

By-elections should be set within days or weeks after the court of disputed returns have ruled an election null and void. To have a by-election in Papua New Guinea would take months or even years. While the elected person and his/her petitioner are at loggerheads with hiring and sourcing resources to represent them at court, the people who come directly under those electorates or the regional seats are severely affected.

Former Western Highlands Governor Paias Wingti addresses the crowd at the launch of the anti-corruption campaign billboards in Mt Hagen who has filed a petition against incumbent Tom Olga

The longer the people wait for a by-election, the more they are without government services and urgent government support. However, the recent case between the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission and and Don Polye has raised red flags when the Electoral Commission announced Mr. Polye's by-election just days after his election was declared null and void. For many thinking Papua New Guineans, this approach smells fishy and the Electoral Commission and Mr. Polye should explain to Papua New Guineans why there are so prompt in a by-election.

Ousted Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga outside the Waigani Court House flanked by his supporters after his hearings on his election petition filed by his predecessor Wingti

The Western Highlands Provincial seat and the Madang Provincial seat were the first two seats that needed to be given preference. It has been almost two years and nothing is forthcoming on whether or not there will be by-elections for these provincial seats respectively.

If Mr. Polye's by-election proceeds as planned, we assume that, that will set a precedent for the future by-elections to be held days after the court declares an election null and void. Otherwise, obviously we observe it is one of National Alliance's tactics to manipulate the government's systems to suit their needs to cling onto power.

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By-elections in Papua New Guinea

By-elections should be set within days or weeks after the court of disputed returns have ruled an election null and void. To have a by-election in Papua New Guinea would take months or even years. While the elected person and his/her petitioner are at loggerheads with hiring and sourcing resources to represent them at court, the people who come directly under those electorates or the regional seats are severely affected.

Former Western Highlands Governor Paias Wingti addresses the crowd at the launch of the anti-corruption campaign billboards in Mt Hagen who has filed a petition against incumbent Tom Olga

The longer the people wait for a by-election, the more they are without government services and urgent government support. However, the recent case between the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission and and Don Polye has raised red flags when the Electoral Commission announced Mr. Polye's by-election just days after his election was declared null and void. For many thinking Papua New Guineans, this approach smells fishy and the Electoral Commission and Mr. Polye should explain to Papua New Guineans why there are so prompt in a by-election.

Ousted Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga outside the Waigani Court House flanked by his supporters after his hearings on his election petition filed by his predecessor Wingti

The Western Highlands Provincial seat and the Madang Provincial seat were the first two seats that needed to be given preference. It has been almost two years and nothing is forthcoming on whether or not there will be by-elections for these provincial seats respectively.

If Mr. Polye's by-election proceeds as planned, we assume that, that will set a precedent for the future by-elections to be held days after the court declares an election null and void. Otherwise, obviously we observe it is one of National Alliance's tactics to manipulate the government's systems to suit their needs to cling onto power.

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By-elections in Papua New Guinea

By-elections should be set within days or weeks after the court of disputed returns have ruled an election null and void. To have a by-election in Papua New Guinea would take months or even years. While the elected person and his/her petitioner are at loggerheads with hiring and sourcing resources to represent them at court, the people who come directly under those electorates or the regional seats are severely affected.

Former Western Highlands Governor Paias Wingti addresses the crowd at the launch of the anti-corruption campaign billboards in Mt Hagen who has filed a petition against incumbent Tom Olga

The longer the people wait for a by-election, the more they are without government services and urgent government support. However, the recent case between the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission and and Don Polye has raised red flags when the Electoral Commission announced Mr. Polye's by-election just days after his election was declared null and void. For many thinking Papua New Guineans, this approach smells fishy and the Electoral Commission and Mr. Polye should explain to Papua New Guineans why there are so prompt in a by-election.

Ousted Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga outside the Waigani Court House flanked by his supporters after his hearings on his election petition filed by his predecessor Wingti

The Western Highlands Provincial seat and the Madang Provincial seat were the first two seats that needed to be given preference. It has been almost two years and nothing is forthcoming on whether or not there will be by-elections for these provincial seats respectively.

If Mr. Polye's by-election proceeds as planned, we assume that, that will set a precedent for the future by-elections to be held days after the court declares an election null and void. Otherwise, obviously we observe it is one of National Alliance's tactics to manipulate the government's systems to suit their needs to cling onto power.

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