Gore likely to retain seat as counting comes to a close

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Sohe MP Delilah Gore (pictured) is likely to retain her seat when counting for her electorate ends today with quality checks.
Election manager Peter Malaifeope told The National that Gore, the Minister for Community Development and Religion, maintained the lead at count 23, polling 5159 votes, and after
quality checks it would be into eliminations.
He said counting for Ijivitari was suspended for a night at the weekend but had resumed yesterday.With nine more boxes to count, Richard Masere was still leading comfortably.
Malaifeope said counting for the Northern regional seat was progressing, 32 boxes yet to be counted for the Kokoda, Kira, Tufi, Safia and Afore local level governments.
Regarding petitions by candidates for the regional and ijivitari seats, he said with the help of state lawyers they managed to get counting continued.Malaifeope said he had told the candidates to take the matter to the Court of Disputed Returns.
He said they were querying the number of unused ballot papers and other related matters which could only be raised in the Court of Disputed Returns.
Malafeope is confident that counting in the two electorates and for the regional seat would be doneĀ  before deadline.