The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea has dismissed the final election petition filed against Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa, effectively bringing an end to all legal challenges surrounding his election victory.
The petition, filed by candidate Peter Yama, was quashed by the court in a ruling delivered was in favor of Governor Pariwa on the 29th of March 2026. The decision now confirms the legitimacy of the Governor’s mandate following years of legal contest.
Speaking after the ruling, Governor Pariwa and his lawyer Martin Kombri revealed that a total of four election petitions had been filed against the Governor’s election following the 2022 National General Election. All of these petitions were previously dismissed by the National Court of Papua New Guinea.
Kombri said the Supreme Court’s decision marks the final chapter in the prolonged legal battle, reaffirming earlier rulings and putting to rest any remaining disputes.
“After the Supreme Court dismissed the matter in its entirety, the petitioner has been ordered to pay legal costs for both Governor Pariwa and the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission,” Kombri stated.
He added that the ruling not only upholds the decisions made by the lower courts but also reinforces confidence in the country’s judicial system and electoral processes.
Governor Pariwa welcomed the outcome, describing it as a victory not just for himself, but for the people of Madang who entrusted him with leadership.
“The people of Madang have spoken and justice has been served,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to his legal team, campaign supporters, and the people of the province who stood by him throughout what he described as a challenging three-year legal journey.
“This has not been an easy process, but I remained confident in the rule of law and the strength of our judicial system,” he added.
Governor Pariwa said the conclusion of the court battles now allows him to fully focus on delivering on his development agenda for the province.
“With all legal matters now settled, my focus is to return to the people and complete the work we started, improving services, infrastructure, and opportunities for our communities across Madang,” he said.
The ruling brings closure to one of the province’s most closely followed post-election disputes and clears the way for continued governance without further legal interruptions.
