Candidates handing out goods warned

CANDIDATES donating goods and materials to people in the name of “election awareness” could get into trouble with the court of disputed returns after the election.
Former Finschhafen MP and intending candidate Alfred Pogo said in a statement yesterday that many genuine candidates in Finschhafen were under the spell of a few, who were going into villages pumping cash, material goods and food stuff to lure voters.
“We cannot waste voters’ time in the courthouse, our people have suffered enough for the last five years and by now, we should be clear on the laws guarding elections,” Mr Pogo said.
He challenged intending candidates to make known to the people what legal grounds they were using in carrying out their election awareness, while distributing donation to villages.
“They are already influencing voters and bribing them well before the issue of the writs, he said.
“Be reminded that I will not hesitate to take anyone to court, so please do not create problems before the election in June.”
He said that the Electoral Commission was carrying out awareness on various aspects of the electoral processes following the latest changes to the election laws, and there was no need for intending candidates to do election awareness.
Mr Pogo urged all intending candidates to respect the duly established democratic process of election and display their true colours to reflect their leadership, integrity and the understanding of the rule of law in the country.

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