PNC is all ready

By MALUM NALU
THE People’s National Congress is setting up camp from Sunday in Alotau with its coalition partners to form the new government, according to senior party member James Marape.
It is the same venue they chose in 2012 to plan their five-year policies and strategies leading up to 2017.
The party yesterday won two more seats – Telefomin retained by Solam Mirisim and Kompiam-Ambum retained by John Pundari – to take its total to 10.
In addition, two candidates who had earlier won their seats in Hela as independents, yesterday announced that they would align with the PNC to form the government.
They are Manasseh Makiba (Komo-Margarima) and Petrus Thomas (Koroba-Lake Kopiago).
“Our camp will take shape this coming Sunday,” Marape said.
“Whichever members who want to be part of our government formation will assemble on Sunday and we will move camp to Alotau.
“We’ve received indications from our current coalition partners.
“Most of them have expressed interest in continuing to work with us.
“One or two of them, already
elected MPs, have already made contact.
“On Sunday, you will see the shape and format of the coalition camp that will be arranged in Alotau.”
Meanwhile, Mirisim polled 9974 votes to finish ahead of Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party’s Peter Iwei on 5719 in Telefomin.
Marape flew to Telefomin yesterday to pick him up, take him to Vanimo to sign the writ, before they returned together to Port Moresby last night.
Pundari was declared yesterday afternoon in Enga after polling more than 18,000 votes for an absolute majority.
The National Alliance part also picked up two seats yesterday – Ian Ling-Stuckey in Kavieng and Joe Sungi in Nuku. Ling-Stuckey ousted People’s Progress Party leader and former Cabinet minister Ben Micah in a major blow to the PPP.
Ling-Stuckey polled 9368 votes to beat Micah on 6713.
Micah refused to congratulate Ling-Stuckey after yesterday’s declaration.
But NA president and Namatanai MP-elect Walter Schnaubelt was jubilant because Ling-Stuckey’s win brought to four the number of seats won by the party so far.
The other seat is South Bougainville won by Timothy Masiu.
NA is looking to complete the New Irealand trifecta if Michael Singan defeats Sir Julius Chan for the regional seat.
The PPP, however, gained some lost ground across the St George Channel in Kokopo where Emil Tammur ousted PNC’s incumbent MP Ereman Tobaining Jr to claim the seat.
Tammur scored 8325 votes to beat ToBaining on 6711.
He had been behind in the primary counts and only came into contention during the eliminations.
As of 8pm last night, the PNC was leading with 10 seats followed by Pangu on 5, NA 4, Independents 2, Melanesian Liberal 1, United Resource Party 1, Christian Democratic Party 1, Coalition for Reform 1 and PPP 1.