Election official denies claims of impropriety

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
AN election official for the Moresby Northwest by-election has denied allegations of impropriety during the electoral process.
Assistant returning officer for Ward Seven Rex Buka dismissed claims by scrutineers of vote rigging and other improper practices, saying the allegations going viral on social media about him tampering with votes and favouring a certain candidate were false.
He said the allegations tarnished his reputation and also put him at risk of being attacked by other candidates and their supporters.
Buka said this yesterday after a picture of him and Prime Minister James Marape was posted on social media with allegations of him siding with Pangu Party candidate Samuel Boe Lohia went viral.
He said the photo was taken of him and Marape two years ago in Goroka.
Buka said that the allegation had the potential to affect his position as a youth coordinator with the National Capital District Commission.
Meanwhile, scrutineers of candidates attempted to stop the counting of ballots at the Sir John Guise Stadium indoor complex yesterday based on the allegations.
They presented a statutory declaration at around 1pm to returning officer Desmond Timiyaso during the quality checking process which he rejected.
The scrutineers then boycotted the counting room and went outside to further mobilise and after an hour returned and attempted to give the statutory declaration to Timiyaso again.