Peter Yama granted leave to progress election petition to substantive trial at the Supreme Court
People in Madang have been urged to remain calm as the election petition challenging the win by Provincial Member Ramsey Pariwa progresses.
Today a supreme court bench granted leave to petitioner and former MP Peter Yama to progress his petition to substantive trial at the Supreme Court.
This follows a dismissal of an objection to competency filed by the current provincial member Ramsey Pariwa.
The story about the Madang Provincial seat election petition centres around evidence and corroboration.
Mr Yama the petitioner had argued that the incumbent MP Ramsey Pariwa has made statements during the 2022 election campaign that were defamatory and as a result swung votes to Mr Pariwa.
An incident noted in court was on Karkar Island.
But the National Court Court judge David Cannings sitting in Madang dismissed the election petition saying there must be corroborating evidence to prove in fact and law where undue influence affected the results.
Mr Yama was not satisfied and went further to the supreme court and asking for leave to challenge the National Court’s decision at the Supreme Court.
He wanted a five man bench to hear his review.
But Pariwa objected to it. This week a three man bench ruled in favour of Peter Yama to file a review if the national courts decision
Mr Yama said his aim in taking the matter up to court is to challenge the opinions of the court and law and set the precedent for future generations.
Hes he is advising his lawyer to argue that having one witness is suffice challenging what the court says there has to be corroboration.
His query is where is this in law. That will be the gist of his arguments.
His long term lawyer Ben Lomai said they will be liaising with the registry and get supreme court directions to have the matter come before a full bench.
In their press meeting today after the decision, Mr Yama acknowledged Mr Lomai for arguing and challenging law-not accepting decisions at face value.