Powi again – The National

**Sinai, Southern Highlands election manager Alwin Jimmy and Powi at the electoral commission office in Port Moresby. – Nationalpics by NICKY BERNARD**

By REBECCA KUKU
WILLIAM Powi has again been declared Southern Highlands governor under “special circumstances” by the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Electoral Commission (EC).
In the last General Election 2017 (GE17), he was also controversially declared the winner under “special circumstances”.
Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai on Thursday declared Powi as the winner in the presence of Southern Highlands Election Manager Alywin Jimmy at about 6.30pm on the eve of National Repentance Day in the EC’s office.
Reporters’ request for the detailed results were ignored by Sinai, giving rise to a lack of transparency in the declaration on the back of the 135,023 ballot papers that were burnt in Mendi.
It is unclear what Powi’s ballot count was at, and that of the top five candidates at the time of declaration.
Sinai said he was declaring Powi as the winner under “special circumstances” in line with Section 175, (a) and (b) under the country’s Organic Law on general elections.
Sinai said he had to make the decision as 135,023 ballot papers were destroyed and burnt in Mendi.
“We did the best we could, there is nothing more we can do and we cannot complete counting as the ballot papers were destroyed. I am, therefore, using my powers to declare Powi as the Southern Highlands Governor,” he added.
Sinai said the same was done for Kabwum and Markham in Morobe, where ballot papers were also destroyed.
Powi was also present to sign the declaration writs and called on leaders from the province to set aside their egos and work with him to build the province. A candidate for the Southern Highlands seat, Peter Nupiri claims not all the ballot papers were burnt, just the ones that were disputed.
“We could have continued on with the counting or have the election declared failed for the Southern Highland’s Provincial seat,” he said.
Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill expressed disbelief and disappointment on the declaration of Powi as governor.
“Our people nationwide has been denied their right under Section 50 of our Constitution to free and fair elections, culminating in this travesty against democracy in my home province,” he said.
“What has our country come to if we have leaders not democratically elected? How can these so-called leaders who do not have the people’s mandate to move our country forward?
“Our children and young people will have no respect for law and order or leaders when they see how these fake ‘big men’ bury our freedom in their lust for greed and power.”