LLG elections over in ENB

TWENTY-four council wards in East New Britain were declared unopposed as polling ended last week in the local level government by-elections.
The by-elections were funded by the ENB government and counting for all other council wards contested in the by-elections were concluded with the 24 unopposed elections as follows.
The Kokopo electorate had two in the Bitapaka LLG, two in DOY LLG and one in Raluana LLG, Rabaul electorate saw three candidates unopposed in the Rabaul urban LLG and one in the Balanataman LLG.
For the Rabaul urban ward nine, Benson Kawang won by 27 votes.
There were more candidates contesting unopposed in the Gazelle electorate with Toma-Vunadidir having five council candidates declared winners, three in the Livuan Reimber LLG, two in the Lassul-Baining LLG and one each for Central Gazelle and Inland Baining LLGs.
Counting of ballot papers for the Balanataman LLG presidential seat in Rabaul began last Friday with preliminary counts with ballot papers not matching and was suspended for recheck on Saturday. Results from the counting were expected to be announced over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Pomio electorate also had a handful of unopposed candidates for Sinivit LLG ward with two, one in West Pomio Mamusi with one winner and another a failed election declared for two wards in Central Inland Pomio.
Provincial elections manager Terence Hetinu said  the reason for the Ngavale ward in Central Inland Pomio LLG being declared failed was because there was no one living in that ward.
He said the population there had moved to the West New Britain side of the border.