Hype builds ahead of Morobe governor election

Morobe Province is on high alert as the people await to learn which of the province’s ten Members of Parliament will contest the vacant Governor’s seat, when the Provincial Assembly convenes for a special sitting tomorrow, November 7th.

The seat became vacant following the death of Governor, Late Luther Akisawa Wenge, whose passing has left a leadership void in Papua New Guinea’s largest province in land mass and second largest city.

A formal notice from the Morobe Provincial Government, signed by Provincial Assembly Clerk Kau Kasup on October 29, confirmed the special Tutumang sitting will take place at 10am tomorrow to elect a new Governor.

While speculation is rife that several Morobe MPs currently holding ministerial portfolios are eyeing the position, the Provincial Administration, the only authorized office in consultation with the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, (DPLLG) empowered to confirm the eligibility of nominees before the sitting, is yet to receive any confirmation of official notice of resignations from those ministers.

At the moment, the Vice Minister for Mining and Member for Bulolo, Sam Basil Jnr, is the only MP who has made his intentions known in a press release to be considered by members of the Tutumang for the top post. However, he has not stated whether he will resign or plans to resign, should his be considered.

The Provincial Administrator, Max Bruten had advised in a Press Conference earlier, that under the Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments, the current LLG Presidents retain the mandate to participate and vote in tomorrow’s Tutumang. However, they are not eligible to be nominated for the Governor’s position.

NBC News is aware that a number of the LLG Presidents are expected to travel into Lae today ahead of tomorrow’s decisive sitting, which will determine the next political leader to steer Morobe Province.