KEITH JACKSON

IN ONE OF THE REAL SHOCK RESULTS of the current Papua New Guinea elections, activist, poet and singer Loujaya Toni has just won the seat of Lae.

Lae Open had offered a fascinating contest since ballot boxes were opened. After trailing through the early rounds, Loujaya Toni (Indigenous Peoples Party) surged to the lead in late counting.

She managed to stay just ahead on preferences as male candidate after male candidate dropped out. Eventually she defeated independent Fred Wak by 1,500 votes after the elimination of sitting member Bart Philemon (New Generation).

Loujaya joins Delilah Gore, who yesterday won Sohe Open, as one of two women so far elected to parliament in this election.

Another woman candidate who is taking the result down to the wire is Mary Kamang (People’s National Congress) in Madang Provincial. She’s up against the formidable sitting member Arnold Amet (National Alliance) who leads by nearly 2,000 votes, but this remains a very close race.

Here's progress in some other undecided seats:

The well regarded sitting member, Puka Temu (Our Development), is well ahead in Abau Open and does not require many preferences to win.

The controversial Speaker in the last parliament, Jeffrey Nape (Rural Development) in the aptly named Sinasina-Yongomugl Open, is 2,000 votes behind in second place to an independent. He’s doing better as the count proceeds and there are many preferences in this seat. An open race at this stage, but Nape faces charges of “undue influence and bribery” in relation to the election, so there could be another challenge confronting him even when the seat is declared.

In East New Britain Provincial, veteran politician and diplomat John Kaputin (Melanesian Alliance) is now 5,000 votes adrift of Leo Dion (Triumph Heritage Empowerment). But there are lots of preferences to count and the gap can still be bridged.

Former acting prime minister Sam Abal, who’s running as an independent in this election, has a good lead in Wabag open but there are plenty of candidates who have polled well and the allocation of preferences will be very important.

Sitting member Jamie Maxton Graham (PNG Party, Jiwaka Open) has a fight on his hands but is still ahead in a race where many candidates are polling well.

Former Brig Gen Jerry Singirok (Pangu) seems to be sunk in Sumkar Open where sitting member Ken Fairweather (People’s National Congress) looks to have the seat won. At last count he was 2,500 ahead with only 4,900 preference votes to be counted. Fairweather has now been declared elected in this seat.

In Morobe Provincial, Governor Luther Wenge (People’s First) is being closely pursued by independent Kasiga Nara. This one will go down to the wire.

Governor Powes Parkop (Social Democrat) continues to lead in National Capital District Provincial having secured one-third of the primary vote, more than double that of the second runner. Looks to be set to return to parliament..

In Northern Provincial, another seat that has offered a close contest throughout, Garry Juffa (People’s Movement for Change) now leads by 1,400 votes in a big field where the allocation of preferences will be vital.

Former prime minister Paias Wingti (People’s Democratic Movement) who returned from Queensland to contest Western Highland Provincial is 3,500 votes ahead in a tight race with Tom Olga (Triumph Heritage Empowerment) and some big scoring followers including independent and constitutional lawyer John Nonggorr, who in fourth place has polled well but seems too far behind to win.

Footnote: Deputy prime minister Belden Namah (PNG Party, Vanimo-Green River) was declared victorious at 3.30 this morning after an exciting contest in the West Sepik seat.

Afterthought: And reader Bob Cleland offers an interesting anagram: juggle the letters in "election results" and you get (wait for it) "lies - let's recount". Neat, eh!

And now to the state of the parties this Sunday afternoon….