3 election petitions set for NCD

By CLARISSA MOI
THE National Court has adjourned to Friday three election petitions against National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop and the Electoral Commission (EC) for directions hearing.
Judge Joseph Yagi gave the order at Waigani yesterday when petitions by NCD regional candidates Andy Bawa, Wari Vele and Michael Kandiu appeared for first directions hearing.
According to Supreme and National Court registrar Ian Augerea, 102 election petitions had been registered.
NCD was among five electorates that had three petitions.
Augerea said 81 electorates had petitions filed, five electorates had three each, 11 had two each and the rest one each.
According to an updated list of registered election petitions other electorates that had three petitions, were Southern Highlands and Madang regional seats, Moresby North-East and Alotau open.
In the petition by Southern Highlands regional candidate Peter Nupiri against Governor William Powi and EC, the case returns on Nov 24 for the court’s endorsement on the statement of Constitutional issues and for pre-trial conference while petitions by candidates Augustine Rapa and Pastor Bernard Kaku would return on Nov 9 for directions hearing.
In the petitions by Madang regional candidates Peter Yama, Jerry Singirok and James Kias against Governor Ramsey Pariwa and the EC, the court also fixed Nov 9 for directions hearing.
Augerea explained that after an electorate had a declaration, the day immediately following counted as day one.
“A petitioner has 40 days to file an election petition. The 40 days ends at midnight.
“The last declaration was done for the NCD regional seat.
“The 40th day for that seat ended at midnight Oct 12 and there had been no more petitions filed since then,” he said.