By LIMS MIRUPASI
Public servants intending to contest Papua New Guinea’s 2027 National General Election N(GE27) have until Thursday, 29 October 2026, to resign from the Public Service as the statutory deadline for aspiring candidates rapidly approaches.
The deadline was formally outlined by Department of Personnel Management Secretary Taies Sansan in Circular Instruction No. 15 of 2026, dated 29 June 2026, titled “Procedures for Officers Wishing to Contest the 2027 National General Elections”.
The circular directs public officers intending to contest NGE27 to resign at least six months before the scheduled issue of writs on 29 April 2027.
Citing Section 55 of the Public Services (Management) Act 1995 (as amended), Sansan said officers and employees of the State and other public authorities wishing to contest the election must resign from office within the required statutory period.
Sansan stated, “Therefore, all aspiring candidates shall tender their notice of resignation to take effect no later than Oct 29, 2026.”
The October 29 deadline is therefore a critical date for public servants across the country who are considering leaving their positions to enter national politics.
Public servants do not have to wait until the deadline and may submit their resignation notices earlier, provided their resignations take effect no later than 29 October 2026.
Resignation notices are required to be headed “Resignation to Contest the 2027 National General Elections.”
Once their resignations take effect, aspiring candidates will cease receiving salaries, allowances and other contractual entitlements and will be required to return government property in their possession. They will also be removed from the government payroll.
Public servants who resign, contest NGE27 and are unsuccessful will not automatically return to their former positions. They may apply for reappointment through the normal Public Service recruitment and selection process.
The DPM instruction also clarified that the previous requirement for public servants to resign 12 months before the issue of writs no longer applies following a Supreme Court ruling. The applicable requirement for NGE27 is six months before the issue of writs.
Under the tentative NGE27 timetable, the Issue of Writs and opening of nominations is scheduled for 29 April 2027, with nominations closing on 6 May 2027.
Polling is scheduled from 26 June to 9 July 2027, while the Return of Writs is scheduled for 30 July 2027.
For public servants with political ambitions, however, the immediate date is clear,Thursday, 29 October 2026.
Those intending to contest NGE27 must ensure their resignations take effect by the statutory deadline or risk becoming ineligible to nominate while remaining public servants.