Slow start for Grand Chief

By GABRIEL FITO
GRAND Chief Sir Michael Somare, contesting the East Sepik regional seat for the last time, is trailing for the first time in his illustrious 44 year career.
Yesterday, he was 1,000 votes shy of Pangu Pati’s Allan Bird, the man who came closest to defeating Somare in 2002.
Of course it is early days yet and the veteran leader of the National Alliance party was picking up well to move from 6th place at the start of the count into second place.
Sir Michael began moving up when ballot boxes from the Wewak open and Wosera-Gawi electorates were counted.
After count 15 on Saturday evening, Bird was leading a field of 28 candidates with 4,177 votes followed by Sir Michael on 2,811 with Tony James Walwal on 2,170 votes.
In the preliminary count for the Wewak open seat, independent candidate Michael Wagambie leads with 921 votes after count six, followed by another independent candidate Joseph Gabut on 803 and National Alliance candidate Jim Simatab on 687 votes.
Sitting MP Dr Moses Manwau is fourth with 332 votes.
In the Maprik open electorate, sitting MP Gabriel Kapris is on a commanding lead of 3,670 votes after count 11, followed by independent Raymond Kamanambi 1,444, and Ray Laikos Kanai on 1,155.
For the Wosera-Gawi seat, Samuel Akike leads after count three with 727 votes, Paul Malken on 599 and Galus Yumbui on 466 votes.
In the Yangoru-Saus­sia electorate, MP Peter Wararu is leading a field of 36 candidates with 2,245 votes followed by Richard Maru on 2,045 and Bernard Hagoria on 579.
Ambunti-Dreikikir electorate began counting at the Ambunti LLG Chamber yesterday afternoon. Angoram is to start counting today.