Gamato needs K3mil for recount in West Sepik

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ELECTORAL Commissioner Patalias Gamato, pictured, says K3 million will be needed to recount votes in the West Sepik regional seat as ordered by the National Court on Wednesday.
Tony Wouwou was declared Sandaun Governor at last year’’s general election. But his victory was challenged in an election petition by former governor Simon Solo who lost to Wouwou by about 2800 votes.
Gamato said based on the court decision, he had written to the Government to allocate K3 million for the recount to begin on Nov 5 as directed by National Court judge Hitelai Polume-Kiele.
Wouwou, a member of the ruling People’s National Congress Party, said outside court that he accepted the decision and had told his supporters to respect the court ruling.
He said he had discussed the court decision with his lawyer and would file an application for a review of the National Court decision in the Supreme Court.
He has 14 days to file that application. The other three election petitions filed after the 2017 general election which resulted in the ordering of recounts by the court are for the Central Bougainville, Goroka and Samarai-Murua seats.