Markham win boosts PNC numbers

National, Normal
Source:

The Nationa, Monday July 16th, 2012

By EDDIE MOSES
THE Peter O’Neill-led People’s National Congress now has three MPs in the race to form the new government with the declaration of Paul Isikiel as the new Markham open MP.
Isikiel was declared by returning officer Simon Soheke at 7.15pm at the Markham Valley High School counting centre yesterday evening.
Isikiel unseated sitting MP Koni Iguan with 11,373 votes to pass the 50%-plus-one absolute majority threshold of 11,202 votes. The new MP collected 756 votes after the third candidate, David Iriap, was eliminated in the 23rd elimination.
Isikiel, a self-employed businessman, is from Warus village in the Umi-Atzera LLG area. He came second to Iguan in the 2007 election.
The Markham MP’s declaration is the first for the nine districts in Morobe.
Isikiel was lost for words when asked to give his maiden speech as an MP. “What can I say? Thank you. Thank you very much.”
He commended the polling and election officials for an honest election process and promised to work closely with everyone.
Meanwhile, in Bulolo, sitting MP Sam Basil was in front with a commanding lead of 21,365 votes when counting was suspended after count 34 last night.
Basil was easily 8,000 votes in front of his nearest challenger, Samuel Manoah (2,518) in second place.