Candidates present petition on conflict of interest among officials

ABOUT 15 intending candidates contesting the ward two council seat in Lae urban local level government of Lae district have raised questions regarding the council elections.
The candidates met on Friday and presented their petition to provincial election manager Simon Soheke, which was received by his assistant Fredah Joses.
According to group spokesman Pius Panap, the candidates indicated that there was a conflict of interest among Lae urban LLG ward two election officials.
Panap said candidates had learnt that certain electoral officers overseeing ward two were close relatives of incumbent councillor Carol Yawing.
They want the election manager to look into the issue and swap the electoral officers with other wards.
“What we understand in the law is that it is not fitting for an electoral officer whose relative is contesting to oversee the election,” Panap said.
Another issue raised by the candidates was the acceptance of nomination of a candidate from Ahi LLG to contest ward two.