Government will not gag motion to unseat PM James Marape

Prime Minister James Marape assured the country his government will not "run away" from the motion of no confidence notice  resubmitted to the office of the Parliament Speaker yesterday. 

The prime minister threw a challenge to the Opposition Members of Parliament to "produce your number on the floor of parliament." 

Mr Marape's comments in today's parliament followed minutes of drama that took over the chamber after Leader of Government Business Rainbo Paita moved a motion of confidence in Parliament 

After numerous point of orders from the Opposition, acting Speaker Koni Iguan granted leave for Mr Paita to proceed with the motion. 

"I will not entertain any point of order, I have already made my decision," Mr Iguan said. 

To show their disagreement and protest, the members of the Opposition vacated their seats when the vote was counted. 

The government showed its numerical strength with 84 MPs to nil, demonstrating confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister James Marape. 

The Opposition MPs walked back and took their seats while the Prime Minister was speaking after the votes were taken. 

Mr Marape assured that "the parliamentary process will take its cause," referring to the motion of no confidence notice resubmitted by the opposition on Wednesday, the same day after a defect was found in the original notice. 

He further said, Attorney General Pila Niningi's special Supreme Court reference filed on Wednesday asking the court's opinion on the eligibility of an MP to become a nominee of the prime minister's post in a motion of no confidence vote, will not be used to "gag" the notice of vote of no confidence. 

Former Chief Justice Sir Arnold Amet told 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. 

Under the parliament standing orders, the Committee only sits on Wednesday, in parliament is sitting.