Byron Chan elected as New Ireland provincial member

The People’s Progress Party [PPP] has secured a major victory in New Ireland as candidate Byron Chan was officially declared the Provincial Member-elect today.

Chan clinched the seat following the eighth exclusion of National Alliance candidate Joshua Takin Soi. The final distribution of votes pushed Chan well past the finish line, ending the race with 21,481 votes, surpassing the absolute majority requirement of 18,601.

Independent candidate Kepas Aruban Wali finished as the runner-up with a total of 15,725 votes.

The counting process concluded after a tense final round. The elimination of Joshua Takin Soi, who held 10,963 votes, provided the necessary preference flow to cement Chan’s victory.

The final tally for the New Ireland Provincial seat was recorded as follows:

Total Formal Ballots: 46,668

Total Votes Distributed: 8,840

Exhausted Ballots: 948

Remaining Ballots in Count: 37,206

The declaration ceremony is currently underway in Kavieng, where Chan will be officially sworn in to lead the province. He steps into the role as New Ireland prepares for a new legislative chapter under the PPP banner.

Supporters have already begun gathering at the counting center to witness the official return of the writ.