Poll office accused of plot to unseat members

By JEFFREY ELAPA
THE Electoral Commission has been accused of conspiracy to unseat current members of parliament and to ensure the election in the highlands is a failure.
Works Minister Francis Awesa said during the Electoral Commission election briefing at the State Function Room that members of the commission involved in updating of the rolls were also involved in inflating numbers of certain candidates.
He alleged that the commission was conspiring to delay and fail election in the highlands.
He said if the election in the Southern Highlands failed, then the future of the PNG LNG project would be at stake.
However, Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen said there was no conspiracy and that his work was to make sure the election was run smoothly in a democratic manner.
Ambunti-Dreikikir MP Tony Aimo said the rolls in his electorate were incomplete, incorrect and flawed.
He said that numbers from his stronghold were deflated while the numbers of one of his challengers were inflated.
Trawen was invited to parliament yesterday following Tuesday’s briefing by his deputy, John Kalamoro, to update parliamentarians on the progress of the common roll.