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By ANDREW ALPHONSE
SOUTHERN Highlands Governor Hami Yawari, who is contesting the Regional
seat, is leading comfortably with a margin of more than 8,000 votes
after count number 107.
When counting was suspended at Momei oval in Mendi at 5pm yesterday, Mr
Yawari was leading the race with a total of 22,127 votes, followed by
former governor Anderson Agiru with 9,856 votes.
The votes were from the central and eastern parts of the province.
Boxes from Hela region will be brought to Mendi today for counting and
observers had predicted that the lead may switch as the race
intensifies.
For the Ialibu-Pangia seat, Opposition leader and sitting MP Peter
O’Neill is leading with 5,719 votes after count 32.
Mr O’Neill is trailed by former MP Roy Yaki with 3,017 votes while
former Southern Highlands provincial administrator Brian Pebo is third
with 2,079.
In the Nipa-Kutubu seat, sitting MP Robert Kopaol is leading the race
after count 48 with 5,930 votes and his nearest rival, Luke Simon, has
collected 5,658 votes.
In the third place is David Ongol with 3,913 votes, followed by Felix
Oltomo with 3,740 and Freddie Buka with 2,916 votes.
For the Imbonggu Open seat, race leader is former premier and prominent
businessman Francis Awesa with 4,642 votes, while one-time provincial
administrator Pila Niningi is running second with 2,995 votes.
Former MP Peter Peipul is in the third spot with 2,985 votes.
Sitting MP Timothy Tala is trailing fourth with 2,312 votes after counts
47.
Mendi community leader Robert Posu with 2,961 (fifth) and former
football star Wale Molosi with 2,173 (sixth).
For Mendi Open, after count 35, Thomas Hondaloa is leading with 2,101
votes followed by Pr Isaac Joseph with 2,096.
In the third place is John Kink on 1,566 with Stan Pupio (1,557) in
fourth place. Trailing behind is John Histanda with 1,553.
Provincial elections manager David Wakias said counting so far had been
peaceful.
Counting resumes at 8am today and thanked the
security forces, especially the PNG Defence Force soldiers, for their
professionalism in ensuring that everything was progressing smoothly.
This was despite a few hiccups concerning allowances of polling
officials.
 
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