Ipatas heaps praise on poll office for ‘best election’

By CLEMENT KAUPA
INCUMBENT governor for Enga and front-runner in the race for the provincial seat Peter Ipatas praised the Electoral Commission for a job well-done in the  elections.
“I am yet to be declared but this is one of the best elections to be held in Enga,” he said yesterday in Port Moresby.He said Kandep electorate was an exception.
He and re-elected MP for Kompiam – Ambum John Pundari said five boxes were yet to be counted before MP-elect Don Polye was declared.
If Minape (Mathew) is serious about addressing election issues, he should highlight this as one of the serious cases,” said Ipatas, whose People’s Action Party is partners with Polye’s T.H.E. party in the PNC coalition. The incumbent governor was responding to claims and allegations raised by rival candidate and businessman Mathew Minape about irregular practices employed by Ipatas in the Enga regional election.
He said electoral commissioner Trawen should not be influenced by the allegations as security personnel and polling officials were the appropriate people to report irregularities.