There are 73 candidates in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville who will contest this year’s National General Election.
According to Acting Election Manager, Desmond Timiyaso, there was a notable increase of five from the 68 that submitted their Form 29 that contains their bio-data to the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission, before the close of nominations on Thursday April 27.
“For Bougainville Regional, we have received nine nominations, North Bougainville with 31, Central Bougainville with 21 and South Bougainville with 12. At the close of nomination it totals to 73 candidates who were accepted and declared to contest the elections,” he said.
Among them are five women.
On the candidates endorsed by the political parties to contest the elections:
- Independent Candidates – 34
- SOM Pioneer – 9
- National Alliance Party – 4
- People’s Progress Party – 4
- Social Development Party – 4
- People’s National Congress – 3
- PNG Party – 3
- PNG Human Rights Party – 3
- United Resource Party – 2
- New Generation Party – 2
- THE Party – 2
- Grassroots United Front Party – 1
- People’s Labour Party -1
- People’s Democratic Movement -1
At the meantime, nominations for the 2017 National General Election in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville was peacefully conducted with no reports of major crimes or casualties.
Mr.Timiyaso was satisfied with the conduct of the nomination and appealed to voters to choose the quality leaders.
EMTV News was also able to visit nomination sites in Arawa, Central Bougainville and Buin in South Bougainville.
And talks have been ongoing throughout the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the kind of leadership that will be voted to decide Bougainville’s future political status.
This year’s National General Election is crucial and very important for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville considering the fact that in 2019, Bougainville will have to go through its referendum quest, deciding its future political status.
And what people want is for leaders who will be able to influence the National Government to give Bougainville its right for full determination as set in the Bougainville Peace Agreement.
