Court puts Kundiawa Gembogl writ on hold

National

By MALUM NALU
Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato, pictured, declined to accept the writ for Kundiawa-Gembogl when it was brought to his office yesterday.
This is because there has been a court order issued to count two boxes that were set aside by the returning officer.
People’s National Congress Party candidate for Kundiawa-Gembogl Tobias Kulang has obtained a court order restraining a declaration until the ballot papers in two ballot boxes are counted.
Gamato has complied with the court order and has advised assistant returning officer Robert Lafanama to count the two boxes that he set aside.
Lafanama declared Willie Gogl Onglo as Kundiawa-Gembogl MP-elect last Thursday, however, Kulang argued that this was against an earlier court order.
It was because of this court order that Gamato declined to accept the writ for Kundiawa-Gembogl when it was brought to his office.
“Kundiawa-Gembogl came . . . (and) they wanted to return their writ but I told them that there is a standing court order, so I’ve asked them to check if that court order has been set aside, before I accept the writ.
“I don’t want to return the writ while the court order is there.”
Meanwhile, as of last night, only counting for the Southern Highlands regional seat remained to be completed.