Aikung withdraws election petition

 By ELLEN TIAMU

THE election petition against Tewae Siassi MP Mao Zeming has been withdrawn.

Zeming, the deputy leader of the People’s National Congress Party, is the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources.

Petitioner Fred Aikung, who stood against Zeming in the Tewae-Siassi seat during the general election, said yesterday he had decided to drop the case for the good of the electorate. He withdrew the case on Sept 11.

Aikung said in Lae there was no pressure on him to drop the case.

“The people of Tewae-Siassi have been following the case with interest. From the outset, let me state that I was not lured by money or the promise of a job as speculated,” he said. 

“The people of Tewae Siassi have suffered enough through these years and I want the people to know that it is for them that I made this decision.”  

Aikung said he hoped Zeming would spend more time in the electorate and bring services to the people of Tewae-Siassi. 

The former defence force colonel was asked by fellow candidates to challenge Zeming’s election victory in the court of disputed returns. 

There were claims of bribery, unregistered voters and improper conduct of elections.