No early declarations, Lamur says

 EAST New Britain has 99 unopposed ward council seats in this year’s local level government 

election but declarations will only be made after counting ends.

Provincial election steering committee chairman, Edward Lamur said yesterday there would be no early declarations for unopposed seats in the province.

Lamur said polling would be conducted and all seats contested in the 18 LLGs and 382 wards.

He advised presiding officers not to make early declarations 

to enable eligible voters to cast their votes for their candidates as well.

Scrutineers of candidates have been urged to work closely with presiding officers, polling and counting teams to ensure hiccups experienced in most parts of the province in the general election last year were avoided.

Lamur said of the 99 unopposed ward council seats, the largest number was from West Pomio Mamusi LLG with 18.

He said 12 ward council seats in the province did not receive any nominations, leaving only 283 ward councils and 18 LLG seats being contested by the 1,160 candidates.

Forty-three females, including five contesting LLG president’s seats, are contesting in two LLGs.