Court refuses Isifu’s application on LLG elections

THE Supreme Court has refused an application by Inter-government Relations Minister Kevin Isifu, to join as intervener in a special reference filed by the Ombudsmen Commission seeking clarity on the deferral of local level government elections.
Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika refused the application saying, politicians were not required to take administrative roles and responsibilities and therefore Minister Isifu did not have any interest in the proceedings.
“The application falls short of real interest,” Sir Gibbs said.
“Politicians should not take the centre stage, as it is a matter for the administrators.
“There has to be a difference between the responsibilities of politicians and administrators or departmental heads.”
Sir Gibbs clarified that the minister had already played his part by issuing writs for the elections, which the court had not restrained him in doing, but now he had no essential part to play in helping the Electoral Commissioner with the elections.
The Electoral Commission and the Attorney General have both filed applications respectively to set aside interim orders issued on April 25 to stay the LLG elections, and the court will hear them on a date yet to be set.
Parties in the reference include, Umi Atzera LLG in Morobe, East Sepik government, the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General.