Piel leads WHP regional race

By ELIAS LARI and JAMES APA GUMUNO
COUNTING of votes in Western Highlands province began slowly yesterday.
In the provincial seat, John Piel leads with 512 votes, followed by Paias Wingti on 485, Prof John Nonggorr on 470 and governor Tom Olga on 435 after count one.
In the Hagen open seat, James Ekip Yoka leads with 325 votes followed by MP William Duma with 256, Joseph Nikints 166 and Simon Sanagke 150 after count two.
In the race for the Dei open seat, MP Puri Ruing leads with 2,219 followed by Jacob Andrew Wam 781, woman candidate Mageret Tini Parua 679 and Sol Solo Mel  567 after count three.
In the Mul-Baiyer seat, Koi Trape leads with 669 votes followed by MP Sani Rambi on 642, David Morris 145 and Bafike Lo Kongrui 142 after count four.
In the Tambul-Nebilyer seat, MP Benjamin Poponawa leads with 1,830 votes, Paul Mawa 583, Dr Fred Kuman Wurr 249 and Philemon Korowi 90 after count three.
Meanwhile, the counting for the Jiwaka is likely to commence today in Banz town.