The people of Porgera-Paiela District in Enga Province have shown faith in their late Member of Parliament by electing his son as their new MP.
Gidron Maso Karipe won the by-election convincingly to reclaim the seat that was left vacant following the death of his father, Maso Karipe, in 2023.
He was declared winner today after he polled 19,223 votes to beat his nearest rival, Dickson Pundi, who collected 13,738 votes.
The emotional victory marks the continuation of a respected legacy, following his father’s passing in November, 2023.
Gidron’s late father was known for his humility and commitment to public service that greatly impacted his people when he passed away. His son now continues his legacy and faces the challenges of one of the least developed districts in Papua New Guinea.
Gidron was considered an underdog in the early stages of campaigning for the by-election but captured much attention during the final counting stage. His victory proved to be a popular choice of the people of this volatile region of Enga.
The new MP has his people’s mandate and is ready to face the daunting task of serving an under-developed district over next two years before the 2027 National General Elections.