BY ILYA GRIDNEFF

AAP - PNG'S PARLIAMENT today elected a new governor-general - Higher Education Minister Michael Ogio.

The Bougainville MP scored a clear majority with 65 votes in a special sitting of parliament.

Mr Ogio's rival Sir Pato Kakeraya received 23 votes while eight votes were listed as informal.

More than ten senior PNG figures had voiced interest in running for the post but in the end only Mr Ogio and Sir Pato were endorsed by MPs.

Mr Ogio was not available for comment after the vote but the local press speculated that numerous failed governor-general candidates would launch legal action challenging the appointment.

Friday's fiery parliament session included prolonged shouting matches between MPs and a number of points of order by the opposition regarding whether a sitting member could run for the regal post.

The opposition has also raised concerns about Mr Ogio's past as former Forest Minister where he oversaw numerous controversial deals.

Professor Alphonse Gelu of the National Research Institute, who was in parliament for the vote, said that once again the election process was questionable.

"Last time parliament voted by voice, this time they voted by secret ballot. "For the people of PNG they must know what is the right process," he said.

Despite controversy and criticism regarding Mr Ogio, it was not the first time an elected MP has become PNG's Governor-General.

Mr Ogio is expected to stand down from his cabinet position when he is sworn in as Governor-General when parliament resumes on 10 May.

In December, PNG's Supreme Court ruled a vote that re-installed Sir Paulias Matane as Governor-General in June last year was invalid and un-constitutional.

The court ordered MPs to reconvene for another vote before 20 January.

It was another twist in a dramatic end to 2010 that also included the standing down of Prime Minister Michael Somare and a snap cabinet reshuffle replacing the deputy prime minister.

Sir Michael stood aside to face a yet to be established leadership tribunal regarding alleged misconduct in office regarding failing to lodge financial statements from as far back as 20 years.