SON OF LATE PIONEER MP WINS VACANT POGERA PAIELA OPEN SEAT

INDEPENDENT candidate Gidron Maso Karipe is now the member elect for the Pogera Paiela Open Seat in Enga Province.

The son of the late pioneer MP was declared with 19, 223 votes while the runner up was OUR Party candidate Dickson Pundi with 13, 738 votes afternoon the final elimination of independent candidate Andrew Lakis Ruing with his 11,549 votes.

His father the late Maso Karipe won the maiden 2022 Pogera Paiela Open Seat but unfortunately died whilst in office.

Unlike past elections, the new district experienced less violence with majority of the population exercising their democratic rights freely without intimidation and fear.

A total of 27 candidates contested where polling was completed within a period of two weeks before a winner was declared immediately after.

Strict command and control was maintained by the joint security forces under the command of Western End Commander and Pogera SOE Controller Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Tondop ensuring a peaceful election thus indicating a positive future for the gold rich district.