West Sepik releases poll figures

 By GABRIEL FITO

A total of 1,442 candidates are contesting the 18 local level government presidents’ and 349 ward councillors’ seats in West Sepik.

Provincial election manager Martin Anska released the figures yesterday after the last assistant returning officer who was accepting nominations at Yapsie was airlifted to Vanimo on Sunday.

Election officials in five remote LLGs in the Telefomin and Nuku districts were stranded after close of nominations for more than a week until late last week when they were airlifted to Vanimo.

Prolonged rain and high cloud cover prevented the chartered aircraft from reaching these areas on time.

Anska said 283 candidates including six females were contesting the 18 presidential seats while 1,159 candidates, all males, were vying for the 349 ward council seats.

“Two of the female candidates are among 29 candidates eyeing the Vanimo town mayor’s seat which was left vacant by Peter Yemin who vacated the seat to contest the national election last year,” Anska said.

“Yemin has also nominated to reclaim the chair for the Vanimo town mayor while Aitape will for the first time vote for a town mayor.”

He described the nomination period in the province as very peaceful as they did not ask police to attend to any fights, threats, or harassment.