Bougainville General Elections

Bougainville president, Ishmael Toroama, looks set for return for a second term, with the 2025 Bougainville General Elections starting to wind down.

However, five other candidates contesting alongside Toroama, have challenged the progressive results to date, alleging vote rigging and corruption of the counting process.

Ishmael Toroama has registered himself as the most popular candidate to continue the presidency for a second term.

At the time of this report, all 621 primary counts from north to South Bougainville have been completed, with a quality check ready to start to double-check the ballots and how they were processed.

An absolute majority will be determined then and a further decision whether or not the exclusion count should kick-in.

At the conclusion of the primary counts, Toroama, was at a commanding runaway lead at over 89-thousand votes,

Well behind in second place is former Bougainville Regional MP in the National Parliament and one of three candidates of John Momis’ New Bougainville Party, Joe Lera with over 17-thousand votes.

Former General of the then Bougainville Revolutionary Army, Sam Kaona is in third spot with over 12-thousand, and fourth place is former ABG Chief Secretary, Thomas Raivet with over 6-thousand.

Former Bougainville Parliament Speaker, Nick Peniai, registered over 5-thousand votes, and Wilfred Magei, yet to cross the 1-thousand mark at the conclusion of primary counts.

These results have been queried by five of the candidates, turning up at the Hutjena United Church Count Center yesterday, alleging corruption in the scrutineer of ballots and the counting process, and further attempting to put a stop to the process to have their grievances addressed.

Commissioner of the Bougainville Electoral Commission, Desmond Tsianai, was forced to explain the administration and management of the election process, to the extent of declaring his independence as head of the constitutional office.

Meantime, counting has been completed in South Bougainville, with the declaration of all its 14 single-member constituencies and the reserved regional women’s and former combatant's seats.

In Central Bougainville, all its 10 single-member constituencies have also been declared with the regional reserved seats also wrapping up at the time of this report.

In North Bougainville, 10 out of the 15 single-member constituencies have been declared.

Five more seats along with the regional reserved women’s and former combatants seats remain outstanding.

A total of 408 candidates are contesting the 38 single-member constituencies, six reserved regional women’s and former combatants' seats, as well as the hot seat of the president.