ESP deputy governor loses top seat

 By GABRIEL FITO

EAST Sepik Deputy Governor Toby Samek has lost his Wewak Island LLG president seat.

Newcomer Pius Singatai Bukatar polled 2,174 votes to beat Samek who only managed 1,670.

Assistant returning officer Pius Numbota declared Bukatar president-elect at 2.15pm yesterday after the 11th elimination.

A total of 13 candidates contested the president seat, which Samek had held for the past 15 years.

Samek was a member of the  provincial executive council and chairman for education.

Numbota said he was happy because of the 5,098 voters, only 78 cast informal votes.

“This showed that the people were educated well on how to cast their votes. I am pleased with the people and my polling teams for educating the voters,” Numbota said.

“There were no problems encountered during polling and counting in the last two days.”

Meanwhile, West Yangoru LLG in the Yangoru-Saussia district declared Manuel Ganaii as its new president.

Counting for the presidential elections in Yangoru-Saussia, Wewak, Wosera-Gawi, Maprik and Dreikikir districts are continuing with more declarations expected to be made today.

Provincial returning officer Lukas Engime is satisfied with the overall conduct of the election in the province and urged the people to continue in the same spirit until all declarations are completed.

He said only the Tunap-Hunstein and Ambunti LLGs, in the Ambunti-Dreikikir district, would start their counting late next week because of the Crocodile Festival at Ambunti early next week.