Candidates want counting failed in Wabag

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday July 26th, 2012

DISGRUNTLED candidates are asking Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen to fail the counting for Enga’s regional seat due to alleged widespread vote-rigging and foul play at the counting centre in Wabag, Enga province.
Spokesman Mathew Minape presented a 20-page petition to the commission yesterday.
Minape told a press conference in Port Moresby that all the candidates were dissatisfied with how the elections and counting were conducted in Enga.
The petitioners wanted the elimination process for the seat to be shifted to a neutral venue such as Goroka in Eastern Highlands.
Incumbent governor and People’s Party leader Peter Ipatas holds a big lead in the race.
In their petition, the candidates also asked, among other things, that the officials involved in the counting of primary votes not be involved in the elimination rounds.