Kipefa retains seat

National

UNITED Resources Party candidate Merrah Minne Kipefa retained his Obura-Wonenara seat in Eastern Highlands over the weekend.
He polled 17,324 votes to beat his nearest rival and Peoples National Congress (PNC) party candidate John Boito who managed 17, 060 at the end of the elimination process at the National Sports Institute counting centre in Goroka.
Kipefa was the last open MP in the province to be declared.
The others declared were Johnson Tuke (Kainantu), Robert Atiayafa (Henganofi), Saki Hacky Saloma (Okapa), Moriape Vereda Kavori (Lufa), Benny Allen (Unggai-Bena), Henry Tutuve Ame (Goroka) and Pogio Ghate (Daulo).
Progressive tallies for the Eastern Highlands provincial seat show that PNG One Party candidate Peter Numu is stillĀ  leading the race with 64,438 votes, independent candidate Simon Sia is second with 24,465 votes, independent candidate Livingstone Fontenu is third with 34,364 votes and incumbent Governor Julie Soso is running fourth with 30,944 votes.
Elimination started yesterday and a declaration is expected either today or tomorrow, according to provincial returning officer Ekiso Kosenama.