More than 2,000 voters from the North Waghi Electorate in Jiwaka Province declined to cast their votes yesterday.
Among them were three candidates who refused to vote, while calling for that polling venue to be moved back to the traditional voting area.
Provincial Election Manager, Rossie Pandihau told EMTV News that attempts to encourage people to exercise their right to vote were unsuccessful both yesterday and today.
Lucas Khanjip, a candidate for North Waghi seat from the Tolu One area said he was not able to cast his vote yesterday at the Kerowil Defence Force Barracks.
Khanjip raised concerns that the centralisation of the Polling Venue of 9 Wards have caused problems, with enemy tribes coming together to vote at the central location in Kerowil.
Those three wards which rejected to cast their votes yesterday are Kupalku one and two, and Numkora wards. A vehicle was set alight at Kerowil and several houses burnt down by voters who were not happy with the decision of the Electoral Commission to centralise the polling area.
The same candidates also protested in May this year, for the Electoral Commission to revoke their decision.
Reasons raised were that two of the nine Council wards are warring tribes and six people were recently killed in separate clashes.
Transportation and security of the voters were some of the main reasons behind the candidates’ petition.
The candidates have feared that this election will not be free, fair and safe, and are already expecting the worst.
