By Fabian Hakalits – EM TV, Port Moresby
Former Bougainville Regional MP, Fidelis Semoso, is the newly-elected member for the Tsitalato Constituency Seat of the Bougainville House of Representatives.
Acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, George Manu, declared Mr Semoso as the new member, in Buka, this afternoon.
Mr Semoso is not new to politics as he was the regional member for Bougainville in the national parliament from 2007 to 2012.
Other declared members are Steven Suako for Torokina, Rodney Osioco for Kokoda, Dominic Itta for Kongara and David Braun Vatavi for Taonita Tinputz.
Suako and Vatavi have retained their seats, while Ita will be serving his third term.
His declaration this morning now marks him as the first member in ABG’s political history to have defended his seat in two ABG General Elections.
Mr Osioco was first elected into the ABG parliament in 2005, but failed to defend his seat in 2010.
Meanwhile, Mr Manu said counting is still progressing in the three counting centres in the Autonomous Region.
In the North Region, counting is now in the second elimination process for Haku constituency, while it continues in Central Region with the primary count for South Nasioi and in South Region, the second exclusive stage for Bolave constituency.
“Also, in South and Central, the regional women’s and former combatant seats are being counted progressively as the counting officials count ballot boxes from each constituency. As such, there are results gradually coming in for these elections,” said Mr Manu.
“In North, the regional women and former combatant seats will be counted following the completion of the constituencies. I have been advised that in North, the order of the constituency count has changed”.
Following Haku, which is currently underway, counting will continue with Taonita Teop, Teua, Halia, Peit, Nissan, Hagogohe, Mahari, Selau, Tonsu, Suir, and then the Atolls.
