Five ENB women race for presidency

 FIVE women are among 198 candidates contesting the 18 local level government presidents’ seats in East New Britain. 

The provincial election office in Kokopo received 198 nominations for the two mayors’ seats and 16 LLG presidents’ seats.

There are 944 candidates for the ward council seats.

Provincial election manager Joab Voivoi said 44 women were among those contesting the council seats in the 357 wards.

This included eight for the mayor’s seat in Rabaul town and 10 for the mayor’s seat in Kokopo town. 

Among the LLG president candidates are three women from Central Gazelle and two from the Reimber Livuan LLG in Gazelle district.

Only one ward council seat has been uncontested – Rangulik, a remote ward in the Inland Baining LLG of Gazelle district.

There are 53 council seats unopposed in Pomio, 30 in  Gazelle and five each in Kokopo and Rabaul.

There are 74 candidates for the 20 council seats in the Kokopo Vunamami Urban LLG including six women. 

Three seats are unopposed seats, according to assistant returning officer Thomas Nakui

All LLGs and ward council elections in the Gazelle Peninsula will be conducted at the respective wards and counted at the LLG chambers at the end of each day.