Counting for the Kairuku-Hiri open by-election will go into its quality checks and elimination process starting tomorrow.
The counting was suspended this afternoon by the Acting Returning Officer for Hiri, Karo Tiana.
This was to allow counting officials to return fresh tomorrow morning to start the quality checks and proceed into elimination.
After count forty the primary votes early this morning, National Alliance candidate, Peter Namea Isoaimo, sits at the first placing with 12, 849 votes.
Followed closely with only fourteen votes difference was People’s National Congress Candidate, Paru Aihi, with 12, 836 votes.
On third placing is United Resource Party candidate, Henao Iduhu, who polls 8, 801 votes.
Sitting on the fourth and fifth placing were Independent candidates Saraga Saki Hanua and Gavera Bitu.
Counting officials will resume counting earlier tomorrow morning after it was suspended by Mr Tiana this afternoon.
However, whether the counting will proceed smoothly into the elimination process or not was uncertain as some of the counting officials who were laid off this afternoon demanded that their counting allowances be paid by tomorrow before they go into the elimination process.
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