Kuave beats Silupa for Lufa seat

By LLANE MUNAU
JEFFREY Kuave has taken over from Yawa Silupa as the Lufa MP.
Kuave, a former member of the Eastern Highlands provincial assembly, polled 8,795 votes ahead of Eddie Mike Jondi on 6,457 votes.
Silupa, who had served as MP for two terms, is a member of Don Polye’s Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party.
Kuave hails from the remote Unavi local level government area.
He is a motor mechanic and coffee buyer and endorsed by the PNG Country Party.
In nearby Unggai-Bena district, MP Benny Allan retained his seat and will serve a third term in parliament.
Allan was the first member to be declared in the Eastern Highlands province after nine days of counting.
The former secondary school teacher was re-elected by a landslide victory of 15,139 votes, running ahead of businessman Apaso Winch Oibotee on 8,609 votes.
Daulo is expected to make a declaration tomorrow after going to the final exclusion.
Other remaining six electorates will declare their members by Monday.