Anisi may defend victory in court

By ELIAS NANAU
IZEKIEL Anisi, who unseated Tony Waterupa Aimo in the Ambunti-Dreikikir open seat in East Sepik province, is expected to defend his election victory in the court of disputed returns.
Aimo of the National Alliance party, has already filed a dispute at the Waigani National Court.
He named winning candidate Anisi and Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen as defendants.
National and Supreme Court registrar Ian Augerea said it was the first case to be registered.
Augerea said there was another dispute filed by Norbert Gubag, a losing candidate for the Gazzelle open in East New Britain, bringing the record to two so far.
Gubag named the returning officer, Ekonia Wokom, and Trawen as defendants.
“We are expecting more to come,” Augerea said.
He said during the voting and counting period, 35 court cases were registered and these cases concerned issues such as disputes on ballot boxes.
Augerea said the National and Supreme Court judges attended a two-day workshop this week focused on settling election disputes.
“We always do this every time when election comes around,” he said.
“We look at the rules.”
He said these rules covered the National and the Supreme Court election petition review rules.
Augerea said registered court of disputed returns were now available on the website www.pngep.com.