Transcript
Having already secured the first two results declared, the People's National Congress party of prime minister Peter O'Neill is confident of heading the next coalition government. Even as counting is yet to start in many electorates, the PNC has set up camp in sunny Alotau, inviting MPs-elect and other contenders to come and discuss joining a coalition.
But the opposition's Pangu Pati, led by Bulolo MP Sam Basil, has also set up a camp in Goroka, trying to form a new government. Mr Basil has appealed to incoming MPs not to join a coalition based on financial inducements, focussing on independent candidates who he claims the PNC is ready to pay a million kina each.
"My message to the independent candidates and people from every electorate, they must understand that if they vote an independent candidate into parliament, that independent candidate represents them. That (successful) independent candidate must understand why he was chosen by the people to represent them. And he or she must not sell the voters' rights to a political party that voters do not want to come back into power."
Two government ministers have emerged as victors in the first two election results declared. One of them, the Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko, won emphatically on first preferences. He had a message for his supporters and his critics.
"I also praise my people of Moresby South for seeing through the rubbish and the lies that were put on social media and put out by other candidates as well. I thank them for ensuring that the truth always prevails."
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is on track to win the vote count and be declared the winner in his Ialibu- Pangia electorate. However, a supreme court reference has been filed by one of his opponents in the electorate, Stanley Liria, seeking to have polling declared invalid.
"Having seen that election is conducted on a Sunday, which is on a prohibited day, I have a duty to register a case and seek Supreme Court interpretation. And obviously we will demonstrate that a lot of our voters and supporters and population was inconvenienced in that, on a short notice actually, polling was brought forward and conducted on a Sunday."
Meanwhile, as counting progresses, at least two incumbent government ministers look set for defeat: the Mining Minister Byron Chan,in the Namatani seat in New Ireland and the Health Minister, Michael Malabag of the PNC in Moresby Northwest.