Two separate trials for the Madang Regional seat election petitions have been cleared to take place next month.
The trial of the first petition filed by losing candidate Jerry Singirok will be on February 8 and 9 in Madang town followed by a five days trial from February 12 to 16 which involves another losing candidate James Yali.
Justice Colin Makail gave these directions yesterday at the Waigani National Court after refusing an application by the Electoral Commission, which was supported by the incumbent Governor Peter Yama.
The application stemmed from Mr Singirok’s petition sought the lower court to refer to the Supreme Court for interpretation of issues on Mr Yali’s standing as a parolee when he nominated to contest the election.
Mr Singirok alleged as grounds for his petition that the Electoral Commission committed errors and omissions when they allowed Mr Yali to nominate when he was a parolee, who came second, thus contaminated the votes.
Justice Makail said the referral was premature because they still needed to determine the objection to competency challenging the petition.