The recent win by Pangu Pati patriot and Lagaip Open MP Aimos Joseph Akem has been challenged in the Court of Disputed Returns.
Petitioner Tomait Kapili has registered the election petition proceedings at the Waigani National Court before Justice Joseph Yagi with the first mention of the petition exclusively heard today.
Justice Yagi after hearing briefings from both parties adjourned the second hearing to February 19, 2024 for Directions Hearing.
Counsel representing the petitioner was Desmond Kipa of Wang Dee Lawyers while Randolph Jacob Lains was the counsel representing the First Respondent and incumbent MP Aimos Akem.
Outside the Waigani National Court premises, the pioneer MP appealed for peace and understanding to all his supporters in Port Moresby and Enga Province.
Akem reiterated the call for peace saying that the election petition case is a normal process to seek justice and all supporters must respect the petitioner and let the court do its work accordingly.
“People must now get back to work and promote peace as I’m also doing my part,” the MP added.
Akem sincerely acknowledged the petitioner for coming to the court to seek justice as this is the way foward instead of breaking the rule of law causing unnecessary deaths and destructions.
The MP also appealed to the petitioner and his supporters to take responsibility of the lives and properties lost and make peace with the people accordingly as that is what he has been doing.
“Peace is what we leaders stand for and that’s what we should promote in our villages and province before we talk about law and order in the national level,” Akem concluded.
The petitioner was the former MP of the then Lagaip-Pogera Open Electorate before it was recently split into the Paiela-Pogera Open Electorate and the Lagaip Open Electorate respectively.
- Photo shows Lagaip Open MP Hon.Aimos Akem (right front) with his lawyer Randolph Jacob Lains outside the Waigani National Court earlier today.
