Pangu wins one more seat in Lae

National

By LARRY ANDREW
Morobe is experiencing a wind of change as Pangu Pati swept away seven seats in the province.
The seats won by the party are for the open seats of Bulolo, Menyamya, Markham, Nawaeb, Finschhafen, Tewai-Siassi and the regional one.
Provincial election manager Simon Soheke declared Pangu candidate Ginson Saonu governor-elect on Friday.
Saonu polled 128,448 votes, passing the absolute majority of 108,312.
A former governor and United Party candidate, Luther Wenge, was second with 88,174 votes, with  Kemas Tomala (Independent) 56,810.
Incumbent governor  and Christian Democratic Party leader Kelly Naru was ousted at exclusion 22. He polled 41,571 votes.
Saonu said a new day had dawned in Morobe for its people.
“I will also work closely with the member for Lae, the administration and the city council to make the city a beautiful place to live in.”
Saonu has put out an open invitation to the other 24 candidates that contested the regional seat to work with him, contribute their ideas to help develop the province.
He said he would work with non-governmental education institutes, churches and stakeholders to improve the province.
Saonu praised Naru for his efforts in trying to develope the province over the past five years.
“What you can do for the province, you have done it and what you have not done, I will take it on,” he said.
“Some good things that you (Naru) had done to benefit the people and the future generation, I will strengthen and continue.”