The PNG Electoral Commission remains committed to fulfilling its constitutional mandate of delivering free, fair and safe by-elections for our people in the affected electorates.
The by-elections were necessitated by vacancies that were created following the deaths of incumbent MPs and successful election petition cases, are well in progress.
The parliamentary seats of Usino-Bundi in Madang and Porgera-Paiela in Enga became vacant following the deaths of incumbent MPs due to illness, while the vacancies for Kabwum in Morobe and Aitape-Lumi in West Sepik were a result of successful election petition cases against the winners of the 2022 general elections.
Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said the by-elections are progressing smoothly despite challenges, adding polling have been completed in the four electorates with Usino-Bundi being the last to complete polling tomorrow.
“We have some issues in Porgera-Paiela and Usino-Bundi but we are pretty much under control with the assistance of the security forces,” Mr Sinai said.
“However, let me sound a warning to candidates who are organising to hijack the election process that it is an election
offence to hijack a ballot box or to sabotage a State sponsored activity.
“Once you are identified, arrested and charged, and such information is made available to the Electoral Commission, you will be disqualified from seeking nominations to contest in future elections,” he said.
Mr Sinai said section 96″B” of the Organic Law on National and Local Government willbe strictly applied to determine if a candidate is qualified to seek nomination.
“We have considered the election offences in2022 by disqualifying three candidateswho were convicted for various offences. I hope police would conduct an investigation and arrest the main person planning to hijack the election or any other government service,” he said.
The writs for the by-elections are set to be returned on or before 22 August 2025
In terms of the current progress and update by electorate:
Kabwum – Polling completed and all ballot boxes extracted safety from the polling locations and brought to Lae for counting. Counting is in progress at Sir Ignatius KIlage Stadium.
Usino-Bundi – Polling commenced last Wednesday 23 July 2025 and it ends tomorrow. Bad weather and few isolated incidents have affected polling in some pockets of the electorate, but generally we expect all polling to be completed andretrieve all ballot boxes safely to Madang for counting
Aitape-Lumi – Polling completed. All ballot boxes in remote polling locations extracted by chopper to Vanimo for counting. Training for counting officials is set to start at the end of the week and counting will commence soon after the training
Porgera-Paiela – Polling completed last week and all ballot boxes extracted from thefour LLGs which include: Maip-Mulitaka, Porgera Urban, Porgera Rural and Paiela-Hewa.
All ballot boxes airlifted by helicopter to Wabag on Monday 28 July. Training forcounting officials conducted on the same day and counting is expected to start today.
Mr Sinai thanked Team NCD for the successful conduct of the MKA elections and urged others around the country to follow the fine example set by candidates, supporters and the people of Motu-Koita by respecting the election process and upholding rule of law.