Parkop leads race in NCD regional seat

Reports by
JUNIOR UKAHA
NATIONAL Capital District sitting governor Powes Parkop is leading the race for the NCD regional seat.
Counting for the three open seats and the regional seat started on Saturday afternoon.
After count 14 at around 7pm yesterday evening, Parkop was leading with 1,341 votes.
Sharing second place were businessmen Wari Vele and Michael Kandiu with 560 votes each.
Robert Agarobe was in third place with 407 votes.
For the Moresby Northeast seat, sitting MP Andrew Mald was ahead with 455 votes after count 15.
On second place is Chimbu man John Kaupa with 398 votes, followed closely by Labi Amaiu with 380 votes.
Miria Ikupu is leading in the Moresby Northwest seat after count 13 with 2,154 votes.
His nearest rival is Russell Wavik with 1,104 votes.
On third place is unionist Michael Malabag with 979 votes.
Lawyer Loani Henao is in fourth place with 864 votes.
Justine Tkatchenko is leading the race for the Moresby South seat with 1,308 votes as of 6pm yesterday.
In second place is George Lavari with 558 votes.
Albert Karo is third with 425 votes.
Counting for all the seats went through a slow start on Saturday but picked up yesterday.
NCD election manager Cyril Retaw said 1,300 counting officials would be engaged in the counting of some 300 ballot boxes.