by Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The counting for the West Sepik Provincial by-election is into the elimination rounds.
As of the seventh elimination today, National Alliance Party man, Amkat Mai, leads with over 27,000 votes.
Simon Solo, a People’s Progress Party candidate is in second place with over 11,500 votes.
While the former West Sepik Governor and People’s National Congress candidate, John Tekwie is trailing in third place with 8,272 votes.
Leading candidate Amkat Mai needs over 35,702 votes to win the race.
Independent candidate, Bob Namah, was the seventh candidate to be eliminated from the race after he registered the lowest votes of 802 after the sixth exclusion.
The other six Independent candidates eliminated so far include Maima Kaupa, Timothy Numara, Peter Bruce Saroya and Petrus Awa.
Two eliminated candidates are political party-sponsored candidates while the other five eliminated candidates are Independent candidates.
