Opposition will wait till Parliament sits in May to remove Prime Minister Marape

The Opposition has announced it will not file a Supreme Court review, seeking its opinion on the Private Business Committee decision not to entertain the motion of no confidence notice filed in February's Parliament sitting.      

In a media statement released on Thursday, the alternative government made known its decision to wait till Parliament meets in May.

The statement reads, after diligent legal advice, and consultation among each other, the Opposition MPs have decided not to challenge the actions of the Private Business Committee and will pursue, the still live notice of motion of no confidence filed on February 20.

“Contrary to the mischievous allegations by [Prime Minister] James Marape about the February 20 notice of motion containing ‘forged’ signatures, we hold that notice in high regard and vouch for the integrity of that notice of motion.

“We have complied with all necessary requirements set out to enable a motion of no confidence in the prime minister, and we expect that on Wednesday May 30, the Private Business Committee will put the motion on the notice paper.

A turn of opinion, following an earlier statement by Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa to ask the court's opinion on the claim by prime minister of forgery on the motion submitted to the private members’ committee.   

Michael Kabuni, a political lecturer at the University of PNG said “vote of no confidence is an accountability mechanism built into the Constitution, the only mechanism we have between elections to hold the executive arm of the government accountable".