Trawen: Take grievances to court

ELECTION petitioners have been advised by Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen to take their grievances to the Court of Disputed Returns.
Trawen said legally this was the next procedure for disgruntled candidates to seek redress if they felt aggrieved and intended to challenge the validity of the declared results by their provincial returning officers.
He said on declaration of final results after the counting, aggrieved parties now had to follow the proper legal procedures and file their petitions in court.
“I am formally putting out this advice in order for candidates to properly understand the legal requirements under the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections, which stipulate the due process,” Trawen said.
He gave the advice following declaration of the country’s first three seats in Ialibu-Pangia, Manus open and Manus regional.
“The law on elections is very clear on procedures and those aggrieved from declaration of the winners in these three, and other seats that will follow suit, must follow the legal provisions accordingly.
“On declaration of winners, petitions should not be forwarded or addressed to the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission,” Trawen said.
“Winning candidates on declaration effectively become the members of parliament for their respective seats, and by law any disputes against the results are matters adjudicated by the Court of Disputed Returns.”