Numu stays in office after winning election challenge

By GIDEON KINDIWA
AN election petition challenging Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu’s election in 2017 has been dismissed by the Waigani National Court.
The petition was filed by runner-up Simon Sia, alleging that Numu made some statements that forced voters to vote for him.
The petition alleged that Numu produced videos intended to impose excessive influence on voters.
Justice Thomas Anis dismissed the petition for lack of evidence on Friday, saying the videos were produced in 2013 by University of PNG student representative council (SRC) for awareness purposes, when Numu was the SRC president.
“The second segment of the footages showed the first respondent (Numu) seated in an office and giving a statement,” he said.
“I noticed that the video was zoomed, making the image look bigger and the camera was placed below.
“I also notice the first respondent declaring at the beginning of the footage that he is the UPNG SRC president.”
Sia had claimed that Numu looked older in the footage and alleged that it was taken in 2017, however, Anis found no evidence supporting his allegation.
Anis said Numu did not mention anything in the footage about the 2017 election.
Numu said he had referred to the videos in his campaign speeches purposely to show voters his achievements as a student leader.
“For a campaigner to refer to past achievements is acceptable,” Justice Anis said.
The court found that the forceful campaign speeches were not aimed at anyone in particular.
It said Numu spoke out in the open and there was no evidence provided of any threat he might have imposed.
“The speech, in my view, was a campaign speech and it was not aimed at anyone,” Justice Anis said.
He said there was no evidence that Numu produced the videos and distributed them during his campaign. Members of the 2013 UPNG SRC admitted that they produced the video for an awareness at the end of the academic year in 2013.
The court found that the petitioner’s witnesses did not know who produced the videos.
The first part of the footage, according to the court, showed scenes of student demonstrations.
The second part showed Numu seated and giving a statement.
Justice Anis ordered that the petition be dismissed and the petitioner pay court costs.
“I respect the court’s decision and I thank my people in Eastern Highlands for mandating me as their leader,” Numu said.