Councillor happy with Trawen’s decision

 By JAMES APA GUMUNO

A WARD 8 councillor and candidate for Mt Hagen lord mayor seat in Western Highlands commended Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen for declaring a failed election in Hagen Urban local level government.

Deputy lord mayor John Soti Tipin of Hagen urban local level government said the commissioner did not make a mistake when he declared a failed election in the city.

Soti claimed that illegal practices were done in broad daylight during polling in the city.

He said that there was no fair, free and safe election and the election process was hijacked by a few candidates and their supporters.

He claimed that there was violence in the city and people living outside the city boundary came in big numbers and interfered.

“People from other provinces living in the city were afraid and did not cast their votes because of outside pressure,” he said.

He said the people did not exercise their democratic rights to elect their leaders of their choice.

Soti said that the city residences were deprived of their rights to elect their leaders.

“I am happy that Trawen made a right decision to state that the Hagen urban council election was a failed one,” he said.

He blamed the provincial election officials for creating problems in the city.