After a year, the Waigani National Court finally handed down decision of the Jiwaka Provincial seat this afternoon and dismissed the petition in its entirety.
The election petition was pursued by former Jiwaka Governor William Tongamp.
National Court judge Joseph Yagi dismissed the election petition on the basis that election petition did not comply with Section 209 of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections.
The court found that the security cost of the petition was paid ahead of the petition and therefore dismissed the petition.
Section 209 provides for the petition to be filed at the same time as the security fee of K5000 within the 40-days requirements as per election petition rules under the Organic Law.
Hence, the judge dismissed the election petition in its entirety.
A relieved Governor Simon Kaiwi accompanied by his lawyer Jason Kolo told the media outside court this afternoon that he will now concentrate on delivering musch needed services to his people of Jiwaka after a tiring year of waiting and being in suspense.
