The National Court has granted a review into an election petition that was dismissed last month for non-compliance of certain provisions under the election petition rules.
The election petition against Mendi Open MP Pastor Issac Josephs by losing candidate James Embiap was dismissed last Oct 17 by election petitions judge Justice Mark Sevua.
Mr Embiap was alleging illegal practices on the part of Ps Josephs during the election for the seat and claiming undue influence.
The Electoral Commission was named as the second respondent.
Ps Josephs was represented by lawyer Stanis Japson while Mr Embiap’s lawyer was David Dotaona from Dotaona Lawyers.
It was understood that this was the first election petition seeking a review of its dismissal from the election petitions court.
Last Friday, the matter came before National Court judge Justice Les Gavara-Nanu who granted Mr Dotaona and his client Mr Embiap an extension of time to file the review under the amended Election Petition Rules (2007).
The review needs to be filed in court within a 14-day period.
Meanwhile, 26 election petitions out of the 55 filed in court of disputed returns were still pending, and 16 of them had been dismissed and 13 withdrawn.