Parkop ask court to order counting

NATIONAL Capital District governor Powes Parkop has asked the court to intervene in the delay of counting in the constituency.
He said Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen must explain why he was delaying counting in the electorate.
NCD had completed polling last Wednesday.
Parkop appeared before national court judge Justice Collin Makail and asked the court to intervene and fast-track counting in the NCD.
In his oral submission, he called on Trawen to perform his lawful duties.
Parkop was concerned that the delay in counting could cause further inconvenience to the election process.
“What is the reason for the delay in the counting for NCD, when we have Southern Highlands, Hela and Enga provinces starting their counting?” he asked.
He said there was no explanation for the delay from the electoral commission.
“I am not seeking for compensation but simply asking him (Trawen) to perform his lawful duties,” Parkop said.
He told the court that he was a candidate and had an interest in the conduct and outcome of the election.
Lawyer William Ray, representing the electoral commission, argued that the commission was the only authority to deal with issues involving elections.
Ray said the delay was to do with administrative matters which the commission had to deal with including logistical problems.
But Makail said logistics was not a problem in NCD and asked him why counting was not taking place as polling was completed last Wednesday.