Mise extends lead in Aitape-Lumi by-election

United Resources Party candidate and court-ousted MP Anderson Mise is maintaining a strong lead in the Aitape-Lumi Open By-Election as counting nears completion.

After the counting of 28 out of 29 ballot boxes, Mise has secured 19,088 votes, putting him nearly 10,000 votes ahead of his closest rival, former MP Patrick Pruaitch of the National Alliance Party, who has 9,163 votes.

Our Pati candidate and lawyer Tony Christie Waisi is in third place with 5,206 votes, followed by Canisius Kapu of the Paradise Kingdom Party with 367 votes. Daniel Reim Abizah of the Model Nation Party has 228 votes, while independent candidate Paul Aisir has 159 votes.

Counting was temporarily suspended earlier today and is set to resume this afternoon with the final ballot box.

In earlier counts [Count 26], Mise was leading with 17,350 votes, followed by Pruaitch with 9,158, Waisi with 4,161, Kapu with 366, Abizah with 228, and Aisir with 153 votes.

With only one ballot box remaining, Mise holds a commanding lead, positioning him strongly to reclaim the Aitape-Lumi Open seat in West Sepik Province.