Campaign for Sepik regional seat heats up

 By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

THE campaign for the West Sepik regional seat has heated up as it enters its final week before polling starts on Saturday.

Aitape district administrator John Ainep said the latest incident involved a group who destroyed a stand prepared for West Sepik Governor Belden Namah coming to campaign for his PNG Party candidate Greg Kapanombo in Aitape.

“The supporters destroyed the stand at around 9.30am at the main sports oval in Aitape town,” he said.

“The stand was built by Namah’s supporters for him to campaign for Kapanombo.”

Ainep said the group destroyed the stand after accusing Namah’s supporters of shouting down their candidate in Vanimo last month. They had expected Namah to apologise for that but did not.

He said quick action by police prevented the situation from developing into a fight.

Namah later arrived at about 4pm in a helicopter from Vanimo and conducted his campaign on the back of a truck.

West Sepik Police Commander Superintendent Robert Gesa said he was awaiting a report on the incident from the Aitape police station commander.

Meanwhile, Electoral Commission media officer Alphones Muapi said all campaign activities should cease by midnight on Friday.