Wenge clarifies national, LLG elections
The National, Thursday February 4th, 2016
THERE is no constitutional issue or arguable case over the Governments’ decision to conduct national and LLG elections concurrently, former Morobe Governor Luther Wenge says.
“It is the prerogative of any Government of the day to change or not to change the way it conducts elections based on past experiences like costs, logistics, common rolls, election –related fights, courts of disputed returns and many other electio–related issues,” he said.
“However, the arguable case I see is within the two voting systems – limited preferential voting (LPV) and first past the post (FPP) system.
“If Morobe provincial government pursues the LPV and LPP voting systems case in the Supreme Court to seek legal opinion, I will fully back them, I am the expert and I know.”
Wenge was responding to the Morobe Tutumang (assembly) decision to seek Supreme Court opinion over Government’s decision to conduct both elections concurrently.
Meanwhile, Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato asserted that Section 299 of the Organic Law on national and Local Level Government elections allowed for the elections to be conducted concurrently.
Gamato said that the NEC decision was for the change in the methods of electing the heads of LLG.
“The decision states that the heads of the LLG (presidents) will be elected amongst the LLG elected members (councillors).”
Gamato said that the NEC decided to direct legislators to clear the instruments to ensure both national and LLG leaders were elected concurrently.
The provincial assembly also resolved to request the Government to release all LLG grants and entitlements earmarked for the remaining year in advance to enable presidents to implement projects, if it (government) went ahead to conduct both elections together.
Gamato said that in the matter concerning the release of LLG presidents’ remunerations and grants was beyond his jurisdiction.
“I cannot comment on that matter, they can address it with the minister for provincial and local level government affairs,” Gamato said.