T.H.E Party candidate set to win EHP regional seat

By ZACHERY PER
THE people of Eastern Highlands will today know if they will have their first female go­vernor.
That is the likely scenario when the elimination process for the Eastern Highlands provincial seat is completed.
Triumph Heritage Empowerment (T.H.E.) Party female candidate Julie Soso is comfortably leading the race with more than 90,000 votes as counting progressed late yesterday evening after the distribution of preferences from former governor Peti Lafanama’s exclusion.
Soso is ahead with 90,630 votes.
In second spot is Sir Barry Holloway 81,397 and Goroka-based businessman Simon Sia is third with 70,180.
Previous leader and People’s Movement for Change candidate Samuel Si’i dropped out in eliminations yesterday evening.
Eastern Highlands provincial seat returning officer Ikiso Kosanama remained hopeful they would declare a winner today.
Soso was poised to be the third wo­man MP in the ninth parliament after Delilah Gore (Sohe), a fellow T.H.E. Party member, and Loujaya Toni (Lae).
Kosanama said final eliminations were likely be completed today and he would be able to declare a winner at the National Sports Institute counting centre.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen, meanwhile, issued instruction to returning officers of electorates still counting not to entertain any complaints and continue through to the end.
He said any grievance and complaints raised must be addressed in the Court of Disputed Returns by way of election petitions.
The other electorates still in count, which are scheduled to end on Wednesday, are the National Capital District and Chimbu regional seats.