Vali replaces Harisol as returning officer for Nipa

By JEFFREY ELAPA
JOHN Harisol, the returning officer for Nipa-Kutubu open electorate in the Southern Highlands, has been replaced.
Provincial elections manager David Wakias announced yesterday that Harisol will be replaced by Leo Vali as the acting returning officer for the electorate from today.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen gave the order to replace Harisol.
Harisol had defied an instruction not to count the nine ballot boxes that Trawen had deemed inadmissible because of irregularities concerning them.
The boxes that were rejected were from Upa 1, Embi 1, Pomberel 1 and 2, Yomo 1 and 2 from Nembi Plateau and Injip 1 and 2 and Merep in the Nipa district.
They contained more than 10,000 ballot papers.
Harisol maintained that the boxes were not tampered with and not counting them would deny the people’s right to elect their leaders.
“I’m honest and I performed my duties diligently.
“There is no basis for the rejection of the ballot boxes.
“I’m surprised that the complaint was registered from the top and came down to the province when the counting was proceeding without any complaint,” he said.