URP man leads early in poll count

 UNITED Resource Party candidate Henao Iduhu got off to a flying start as counting for the Kairuku-Hiri by-election began yesterday at the Institute of Public Administration Hall,Waigani, Port Moresby.

When counting for the first ballot box from Gaire was suspended at 4.30pm after starting at 1pm, Iduhu had taken a lead with 324 votes followed by former MP and People’s National Congress Party candidate Paru Aihi on 71 and the National Alliance’s Peter Isoaimo on 49.

Others who got into the numbers were independents John Orea and Scott Boio Morata with 13 apiece, Harara Saki Hanua with 10, Gavera Bitu with six, and the only female candidate, Philomena Kassman with five.

Five hundred ballot papers were recorded in the first box, with 492 allowed and eight informal.

Counting resumed at 7pm with supporters camped outside the IPA well-behaved in front of a strong police presence.

Twenty-two candidates from the four local level governments of Mekeo-Kuni, Kairuku, Koiari and Hiri are contesting before a total voting population of 78,000.

Counting will continue today.