NA man holds 14-vote lead
The National, Thursday February 13th, 2014
By LAZARUS BIRA
National Alliance Party candidate Peter Namea Isoaimo is still leading the Kairiku-Hiri by-election after the last tally of the primary count.
The People’s National Congress’ Paru Ahi is running close to Isoaimo, just 14 votes away.
Isoaimo collected 12,849 votes in count 40 to take the lead, while Ahi was second with 12,835 votes.
Henao Iduhu, of the United Resource Party, polled 8,801 and independent Saraga Saki Hanua totalled 7,768 votes to main third and fourth placings respectively.
None of the 22 candidates who contested the by-election has reached the required absolute majority of 26,256 votes.
Assistant returning officer Karo Tiana said counting officials would to do quality checks on the ballot papers counted before going through the elimination process from 9am today.
Tiana said counting was suspended yesterday afternoon so they could cut the number of counting staff as they were nearing the end of the counting.
He said the suspension was to tell the counting staff how the quality checks and eliminations would be carried out and to sort out administrative matters.
He said the eliminations would take only few days and the winner was expected to be declared at the end of the week.