The delay by the Electoral Commissioner in formerly giving the date of the recounting of Kandep Open Seat has worried the local member Don Polye of security issues.
Polye said that Kandep in Enga Province is a sensitive area that has its own sensitive issues, and the Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, failed to inform the parties on the set date.
The recounting of the ballot boxes come after a Supreme Court decision on September 6, by a three-man bench.
Polye was surprised to know from the media that the recounting of the Kandep seat was today.
He said the EC failed to make known to the parties about the recounting.
Polye urged the Electoral Commissioner to be responsible to avoid any security threats.
On September 6, the Supreme Court gave the standing order for the Electoral Commission to recount all the ballot boxes for the Kandep Seat within 30 days.
Yesterday, the lawyer representing EC told a one-man Supreme Court Judge, Justice Stephen Kassman that a proper notice was not given out earlier to the parties, because they still have 14 days to execute the order.
Today, Polye sympathises with the Court for making such decision, and urged the Electoral Commissioner to appoint a neutral Election Manager for the recount.The recounting was supposed to start this afternoon, but was postponed due to a protest march in Wabag town and a burning of a classroom at Wabag Community School.
A suspect has been arrested by Wabag Police this morning in relation to the burning of a classroom at Wabag Community School, where the recounting of the Kandep Open Seat will be.
Wabag Provincial Police Commander, George Kakas, said the motive behind the burning of the classroom is yet to be established.
However, he said the recounting will still be held at Wabag Community School in a different classroom.
