Naru maintains lead in Morobe

LAWYER and philantropist Kelly Naru was still leading the race for the Morobe regional seat yesterday with 3,578 more votes than sitting MP Luther Wenge.
Votes from the Huon Gulf Open electorate increased Naru’s standing by 8154 votes by yesterday afternoon, taking his lead to 54,707 ballots.
Wenge, also a lawyer and Morobe governor for three terms, had collected 5410 to take his total to 51,129 votes.
Four boxes are left for preliminary counts in Huon Gulf.
Lagging further behind the pack in third spot is former Kabwum MP Ginson Saonu on 26,352 votes.
Wenge began strongly in Kabwum, Nawaeb and Finschhafen electorates and managed to stay on top when counting began a week ago but that lead changed hands over the weekend when counting for Huon Gulf and Lae Open electorates began.
Robin Yalambing, Allan Sako and Murika Bihoro are closely behind Saonu.
Final preliminary counts from some outer electorates are yet to reach the final tally room at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Indoor stadium in Lae.