Early Election Results

[Justin94360]

Charlie Benjamin, Ronny Knight win in Manus
People's National Congress candidate Charlie Benjamin has been declared winner of the of Manus Regional seat at 11.02 am today.
This is the second declaration of the 2012 national elections after Peter O'Neill for Ialibu-Pangia,. Manus Open has also declared a new MP.
Businessman and New Generation Party candidate Ronny Knight was declared at 12.56 pm.

[Tree]

That's 2 for O'Neill's camp. I guess being announced a landslide winner in your district almost a week before any others just may help the coattails??

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PNG’s Somare criticises Electoral Commission over early counting
Posted at 08:00 on 10 July, 2012 UTC
The leader of the National Alliance Party says the decision to allow early vote counting for the general election in some parts of Papua New Guinea is a blatant show of bias by the Electoral Commission.
Sir Michael Somare has written to the Electoral Commissioner, to lodge a complaint over the decision to begin counting while other areas are just beginning to poll votes.
Counting began early in the electorate of the caretaker Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.
The early announcement of Mr O’Neill’s big win in Ialibu/Pangia came while polling was yet to begin in Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Eastern Highlands and Simbu.
Sir Michael says it is unacceptable that the Electoral Commission has not adhered to its own programme.
He says it is important that these elections resolve the political crisis that saw him ousted as Prime Minister.
The Commissioner, Andrew Trawen, earlier said counting is being conducted according to PNG’s electoral rules.
Sir Michael says the Electoral Commission cannot continue to encourage the illegitimacy of the Peter O’Neill regime by prematurely counting in his electorate and allowing delays to counting in other electorates.

[jft310]

Somare is mad he is losing .All the votes will get counted.Early counting annoucements of winners defies my logic but I don't know what PNG rules are.

[TxPm]

I don't see what the big deal is. It's not like Sir Michael was running against O'Neil. That would be like here in the US CNN not telling voters in California who won races in NY until voting was over in California.
Also while I am glad to see Team Duma getting crushed so far I actually believe Sir Michael could cause more problems than Duma in the near term

[Tree]

Early tally from Western Highlands. Duma is Hagan Open Seat. We don't know from where these counts come. Kinda looks like Duma's Seat could be one counted with such a lead.

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Independent 4,371 40.22%

United Resources Party 2,309 21.24% (Duma)

Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party 2,265 20.84% (Polye)

PNG Party 602 5.54% (Namah)

People’s National Congress Party 541 4.98% (O'Neill)

[Palm]

Here is what I believe is going on at this point (my WAG). In PNG the secret to getting the PM position is of course first to be the leader of the party who has the most MP seats in parliament. That person is then invited by the GG to try and form a coalition and if he can do so, he will likely be named PM. Advantage O'Neill based on the coalition formed before the election and now with the fact that he has been declared the first "winnier" and his PNG Party seems to be doing well so far. Note that Traewen has also come out stating that he feels there will be a new PM in August, soon after the writs are returned. Why would he say this? I think he "knows" that O'Neill will most likely be the leader of the victorious party. He also wants a successful election, and maybe what's considered the most successful election to date. What better way than for a coalition to be quickly formed and a new PM named in August?

For that to happen the coalition must form very quickly. That's only possible because in PNG it is common for the victorious party head and MPs to in effect "kidnap" those MPs who are seen as important in the process and convince them that by being part of those who form the coalition there are rewards; usually that of controlling the treasury. O'Neill was very wise in running his campaign based on several things; the formation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, the promise of free education, the promise of more available healthcare and the promise of much improved infrastructure. All of this to be funded primarily as the result of the resource boom. I would guess that "kidnapping" process is already taking place. O'Neill has met with countries/companies who want to secure resources and help PNG as a country. O'Neill can bargain with MPs from a VERY strong position; "Look I have already received much support from the people based on my proposed policies AND I have met with those countries and companies that can make this all possible. And I have already formed the Sovereign Wealth Fund with the backing and support of Australia and other countries. Do you want to be a part of this great thing, or do you want to be part of starting all over and probably going backward with people that say they have a better way, but no tools? That way leads to more corruption and squandering of the riches; back to the Somare ways."

We've said before that O'Neill has been well groomed and coached for being an effective PM for PNG. He has a lot of early momentum and should be the PM come August.

[ValueSleuth]

Here is what I believe is going on at this point (my WAG). In PNG the secret to getting the PM position is of course first to be the leader of the party who has the most MP seats in parliament. That person is then invited by the GG to try and form a coalition and if he can do so, he will likely be named PM. Advantage O'Neill based on the coalition formed before the election and now with the fact that he has been declared the first "winnier" and his PNG Party seems to be doing well so far. Note that Traewen has also come out stating that he feels there will be a new PM in August, soon after the writs are returned. Why would he say this? I think he "knows" that O'Neill will most likely be the leader of the victorious party. He also wants a successful election, and maybe what's considered the most successful election to date. What better way than for a coalition to be quickly formed and a new PM named in August?

For that to happen the coalition must form very quickly. That's only possible because in PNG it is common for the victorious party head and MPs to in effect "kidnap" those MPs who are seen as important in the process and convince them that by being part of those who form the coalition there are rewards; usually that of controlling the treasury. O'Neill was very wise in running his campaign based on several things; the formation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, the promise of free education, the promise of more available healthcare and the promise of much improved infrastructure. All of this to be funded primarily as the result of the resource boom. I would guess that "kidnapping" process is already taking place. O'Neill has met with countries/companies who want to secure resources and help PNG as a country. O'Neill can bargain with MPs from a VERY strong position; "Look I have already received much support from the people based on my proposed policies AND I have met with those countries and companies that can make this all possible. And I have already formed the Sovereign Wealth Fund with the backing and support of Australia and other countries. Do you want to be a part of this great thing, or do you want to be part of starting all over and probably going backward with people that say they have a better way, but no tools? That way leads to more corruption and squandering of the riches; back to the Somare ways."

We've said before that O'Neill has been well groomed and coached for being an effective PM for PNG. He has a lot of early momentum and should be the PM come August.

Good analysis.

Speaking of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, wasn't our new director, Sir Rabbie, appointed to head the Fund?

If so, is he still in charge of it?

VS

[Palm]

You are quite right VS; he was named as the first chairman back in December and is expected to be the CEO. Good guy to have on IOC's BOD!

[Tree]

Sir Michael battling for his seat in a very close race. It looks like the pngec website for official results has crashed. Too many ennerOle shareholders must be checking in.

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Counting continues in Papua New Guinea
By Online Editor
12:51 pm GMT+12, 11/07/2012, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea’s caretaker foreign affairs minister and Peoples National Congress party candidate, Ano Pala, is leading on 1,343 primary votes. He is the current sitting member for Rio constituency.

Kila Raka Daba is running second on 972 and Independent candidate, Turai Elemi, on third with 930.

In the Abau seat, sitting Member and leader of Our Development Party, Sir Puka Temu, polled 527 votes, followed by Wari Iamo on 120 and Iati Ai with 103.

Henao Iduhu has taken an early lead in the Kairuku Hiri Open race with 2,686 votes after count 2. Incumbent Paru Aihi has collected 984 votes, followed by independent, Peter Wap on 685.

Former Parliament member, Kilroy Genia and Kila Haoda appear to be the early challengers to the Central Provincial seat occupied by Alphones Moroi. Kilroy has so far polled, 562, to lead the race followed by Haoda on 141 votes. Moroi is down the lane on 5 votes.

In Port Moresby Northeast electorate and the National Capital District Regional, counting has resumed after it was suspended Monday night.

Candidates who are trailing in the race had accused police of siding with candidates leading the race to temper with ballot boxes and rig ballot papers. This has resulted in flared tensions between them and police yesterday, together with a petition forcing counting to stop then.

After count 29 at 6 o'clock this morning, People's Movement for Change Party candidate Labi Amaiu has jumped to steal the first spot from sitting MP Andrew Mald, polling 1,234 votes. Andrew Mald follows in second place with 840 votes, and on third place is National Alliance candidate Felix Tapie with 759 votes.

With the NCD Regional seat, incumbent Powes Parkop is comfortably leading with 2821 votes after count 29 this morning. Former Ambassador Aiwa Olmi has jumped into second place with 1341 votes, while in third place is former Governor Wari Vele with 1204 votes.

Over 9000 votes have been counted, representing just 9% of the primary vote count.

In the East Sepik Regional seat, the Grand Chief, Sir Michael Somare, maintains his lead after counting was suspended last night. After Count 78, Sir Michael collected 23, 918 votes, 761 votes clear from nearest challenger, Pangu Pati's Allan Bird. Bird polled 23, 157 votes. Trailing in third spot is P-N-G Party candidate, Greg Maison with 5, 243 votes.

[admin]

It looks like the pngec website for official results has crashed. Too many ennerOle shareholders must be checking in.

I know the feeling, but we have Hemi, they should hire him