Chan trailing and likely to lose Namatanai seat

National

By MALUM NALU
NAMATANAI MP and Mining Minister Byron Chan is likely  to lose the seat he has held since 2002 to his cousin Walter Schnaubelt –  although the final result is yet to be declared.
Chan, the son of New Ireland Governor and People’s Progress Party founder Sir Julius Chan, is trailing Schnaubelt who is the president of the National Alliance Party.
He told The National last night he was waiting for the declaration of the winner.
Schnaubelt had gone past the 50 per cent mark by 600 votes last night. However, four ballot boxes remained to be counted.
The declaration of the winner is expected this weekend.
Meanwhile, the National Alliance Party (NAP) has 11 candidates leading in the 32 seats currently being counted.
A party spokesman said they were likely to win seats in the four regions and “poised to make a clean sweep of all three seats in New Ireland”.
NIP governor Sir Julius Chan is trailing NAP candidate Michael Singan by more than 4000 votes.
Ian Ling Stuckey, of the NAP is ahead of Kavieng MP Ben Micah.

  •  In East New Britain, NAP’s Malakai Tabar was leading on 4968 after count 26;
  •  In Bougainville South, NAP MP Timothy Masiu was holding the lead with 7009 votes after  count 55;
  •  In Milne Bay Regional NAP’s Robert Igara after Count 15 was leading with 4403;
  •  In Goilala, NAP’s Alex Robert was leading with 1005 votes after Count Three;
  •  Joe Sungi was leading in Nuku Open on 9254 after count 11;
  •  In East Sepik, Allan Bird was leading with 3546 votes after count three; and,
  •  In Kagua-Erave Open, NAP’s Loma Pamea was leading with 1653 votes after count 14.