Tomuriesa welcomes court ruling, calls for unity in the Opposition

Leader of the Opposition, Douglas Tomuriesa today again welcomed yesterday's National Court decision to dismiss a case challenging his leadership, saying the ruling provides relief and a renewed opportunity for unity within the Opposition.

Speaking at a press conference in Port Moresby this afternoon, Mr. Tomuriesa described the court outcome as a victory for the rule of law and a chance for his team to focus on their role of holding government accountable.

The case, brought forward by former Deputy Opposition Leader and contender for the Opposition Leader role, James Nomane.

However, the case was dismissed in its entirety yesterday by the National Court.

Mr. Tomuriesa said the ruling affirmed his position and that of his deputy, clearing the way for the Opposition to close this chapter and move forward together.

“We thank the courts for upholding the laws of this nation."

"They are the custodians of our laws, and their decision in favor of the current Opposition leadership is a great relief,” Mr. Tomuriesa said.

He stressed that the prolonged leadership dispute had distracted from the core responsibility of the Opposition, which is to scrutinize government decisions and policies.

With the matter now resolved, he said his focus is on uniting MPs to present a strong, coordinated front against what he described as the government’s many failures.

“The Opposition must be united and stand up to the government’s failures that are affecting our nation,” he said, adding that it was time to “close this chapter and move forward.”

Mr. Tomuriesa also extended gratitude to his colleagues on the Opposition front bench who stood by his leadership during the legal battle. He acknowledged their support and expressed confidence that the court ruling would pave the way for reconciliation with those who challenged his leadership.

“I hope our brothers and sisters in the Opposition can now close their chapter, so we can keep the government honest and keep them on their feet,” he said.

The Kiriwina-Goodenough MP maintained that unity was critical if the Opposition was to effectively challenge government actions, provide credible alternatives, and restore public confidence.

The leadership tussle had threatened to weaken the Opposition at a crucial time, with the country facing economic and governance challenges.

Mr. Tomuriesa said he now intends to refocus the group’s efforts on holding Prime Minister James Marape’s government accountable.

Meanwhile, the tussle is far from over with Nomane indicating yesterday, he will file a Supreme Court Appeal.