Government motion, a political show of strength

The Leader of Government Business Rainbo Paita moved a motion of confidence in Prime Minister James Marape in Parliament a while ago, triggering an uproar and the Opposition storming out of the chamber and not voting.

The motion saw an overwhelming 84 to nil having confidence in the Prime Minister.

Former Chief Justice Sir Arnold Amet old NBC News this was just a political show of strength provided for in the standing orders.

Sir Arnold says it does not invalidate the motion that's being refiled by the Opposition to be vetted by the Private Business Committee next Wednesday.

The Opposition resubmitted a new Vote of No Confidence motion at around 3:30pm yesterday [Wednesday] afternoon.

The first motion was defective in nature, as it had listed the alternate Prime Minister nominee, Allan Bird, as the Regional Member and not as the Provincial Member for East Sepik.

Acting Speaker Koni Iguan announced in Parliament that he has received a new motion, and this will be deliberated on when the Private Business Committee sits next Wednesday.