Marape urged to release funds on time for Hela recount

PRIME Minister James Marape has been urged to release funding for the Electoral Commission (EC) to conduct the court-ordered recount of Hela regional seat.
With two weeks before the court-ordered 30-day grace period for the completion of the recount, former Hela governor and petitioner Francis Potape said it was important for Marape to enable the EC conduct the recount in order for leadership to be restored in the province.
Potape said 16 of the 30 days had passed with 14 days remaining for the recount to be undertaken.
He said time was running out and certain state authorities were slow in addressing the recount.
“It is obvious that some are trying to use delay tactics in releasing funds at the last minute,” Potape said.
“This is an attempt to force the EC to go back to court to ask for more time.
“With only two weeks to go, it is not fair for the EC to go back to court for an extension of time.
“This is not fair for the people of Hela and it is not fair on my side as well. The people of Hela deserve leadership.
“As the petitioner, I have provided my case so it is now incumbent on the EC to run the recount.”
Potape urged the EC to be neutral and not be influenced by any party.
He said he and Governor Philip Undialu needed to stay away from EC staff as happened for two hours last week.
He said the two-hour visit by Undialu had caused rumours of an impending change of the province’s returning officer and the assistant returning officer and also on the use electronic counting.
“What we want is both manual and electronic systems to be used but now we heard that electronic will not be used after Undialu visit,” he said.
Potape said he had no intention of going back to court.
He said after Undialu went to court to challenge the decision last Tuesday, he filed a court proceeding on Thursday but withdrew the case on Friday because he did not want to unnecessarily delay the process.
He also called on the EC to consider the law and order situation in the province and to move the recount to a neutral venue like Mt Hagen to protect the process and election officials.
“I’m calling on the PM to release the funds for the recount immediately as ordered by the court to do the recount within the 30-day time frame.”