Monday 25th April, 2022 – Transparency International PNG (TIPNG) is calling on all sectors of society to remind elected officials and constitutional office holders to uphold the Constitutional requirement for a National General Elections.
Section 105 of the National Constitution states that a general election to the Parliament shall be held within the period of three months before the fifth anniversary of the day fixed for the return of the writs for the previous general election.
“ Any politically motivated delay to the elections is a violation of citizens’ rights and a dereliction of the constitutional requirement for an election to be held every five years. Any move to do so should be opposed by all Papua New Guineans in the strongest terms, as it is an attack on the democratic principles that underpin our country,” said Peter Aitsi, Chair of TIPNG in a media statement.
“Earlier in April the Prime Minister stated clearly that the elections will not be delayed and will go ahead as scheduled, and he further stated that his office was working together with the Electoral Commission to ensure that the elections are on time. That commitment to the people of Papua New Guinea to respect our Constitution must not be abandoned,” said Mr. Aitsi.
TIPNG has written to the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) requesting he issues a formal notice under the PNGEC official letterhead on this matter, so the official position of the Electoral Commission can be clarified and not misinterpreted.
Ends…///
