27 contest Usino-Bundi by-election

Twenty-seven candidates were nominated last week to contest the Usino-Bundi by-election.

Amongst them are three former national MPs, two of whom are former Madang governors; Jim Kas and Peter Charles Yama.

The other is Anton Yagama, a former member of Usino-Bundi, who was unseated by the late Jimmy Uguro in the 2017 National General Election.

The Usino-Bundi Open Seat has been vacant since early 2024, following the death of the former Education Minister, Jimmy Uguro, whose 28-year-old son, Donald, has also put his hand up for the by-election.

Donald has been endorsed by Richard Maru's People's First Party [PFP].

Another notable candidate is Vincent Kumura, founder of the Kumura Foundation, a local non-profit organisation that has been serving the border communities of Bundi and Gembogl in Simbu Province

Yama nominated last Thursday, despite having an ongoing election petition over the Madang Provincial seat, which he lost to incumbent Governor or Provincial Member, Ramsey Pariwa in the 2022 National General Election.

He held the seat from 2017 to 2022; after wrestling it from Jim Kas.

Kas was a two- time Madang Governor, having held the seat from 1997 to 2002 and from 2012 to 2017, after defeating two Madang knights, the Late Sir Peter Barter, and Sir Arnold Amet, who is currently serving as PNG's Ambassador to the United States.