Kikori MP refutes claims of party-hopping

KIKORI MP Soroi Marepo Eoe says he contested the election as an Independent candidate and now can choose which party to align with.
He refuted claims that he was party-hopping and was a member of the PNG National Party.
“I want to put the record straight that I am not a member of the PNG National Party. I did express interest in the NG National Party but they had a low budget allocation,” he said.
“I wrote to the leader in the last two elections of 2007 and 2012 that I contested.
“They did not have any resources to support me. This time I decided to contest as an independent and I wrote to the party president making my intention known.”
Registrar of Political Parties Dr Alphonse Gelu said candidates could change parties during the period leading up to the formation of government.
Gelu said there was nothing much to be done about such cases because those elected under the banner of a party could be targeted by different political parties.