Double declaration for Southern Highlands

National

Jeffrey Komal and Wesley Raminai  were yesterday declared MPs-elect for Nipa-Kutubu and Kagua-Erave respectively  at the Momei Oval in Mendi, Southern Highlands.
People’s National Congress party’s  Komal, the incumbent,  polled 33,022 and runner-up Philimon Embel (PNG Party) 31,542 after
exclusion 17 in a battle that closed up over the last few days of counting.
Kagua-Erave MP-elect Raminai, an Independent, polled 21,257 and runner-up Joel Raitano scored 16,555 in exclusion 29.
A relieved Komal thanked the people of Nipa-Kutubu and said he would return that same trust people had on him by continuing to provide the basic services he had started.
He said unlike previous elections, this election was the best – without much destruction of properties and chaos.
“It is the people’s choice and I have no grudges against the other candidates. I am happy to announce to them that they can work with me,” Komal said.
Komal said he had delivered under the PNC banner and will continue.
Raminai said he was happy but could not talk much as he was not a politician but a businessman.