Gore is first female MP from Northern

By LESLIE OMARO
in Popondetta
IT was double celebrations for the Triumph Heritage Empowerment (T.H.E) Party when two of its candidates in the Northern province won their respective open seats over the weekend.
Former public servant Dellilah Pueka Gore created history as the first female political leader in the province to represent her Sohe district in the ninth parliament.
In the Ijivitari open seat MP David Arore, another T.H.E Party candidate retained his seat after finishing strongly with 8,933 votes ahead of his nearest rival John Warisan of the People’s Party who finished with 4,906.
Both winning candidates were whisked away by T.H.E Party leader Don Polye in a helicopter on Sunday and flown to Port Moresby to go straight into camp.
“She (Gore) is a confident, intelligent and a hard worker who will lead her people honestly,” Polye said.
Polye also said that T.H.E party was leaving its options open and were not restricting themselves to one group.
Following Gore into parliament also over the weekend was newly-elected member for Lae Loujaya Toni an Indigenous party candidate.
Toni won by 7,364 votes beating sitting MP Bart Philemon who was excluded in count 29 with 4,680.
Gore was declared at 2.25pm on Saturday afternoon winning by 6,105 votes, finishing 2,000 votes clear of independent candidate Henry Jons Amuli who came in at second with 4,112.
Gore challenged 54 other candidates most, of them male, and gave her menfolk a good run for their money.
Gore will be following in the footsteps of female members of parliament, former governor for Milne Bay province Dame Josephine Abaijah and Moresby South MP Dame Carol Kidu.
Gore maintained her lead since primary counting and stormed home confidently to win, reflecting strongly the voice of the people of Sohe.
Coincidently her former boss and sitting MP Anthony Nene was excluded in count 52 with 3,474 leaving Gore to fight for the seat against Stephen Kila Pat and Amuli.
“Thanks for voting me and giving me this opportunity to be your leader for the next five years,” Gore said during her victory speech on Saturday.
“To the hard working public servants in Popondetta town I am with you.”