Mirisim said Temu had asked O’Neill to resign because he had “lost the confidence” of cabinet. O'Neill's negative response to this statement, said Mirisim, led to further defections and resignations from PNC. Temu told the media conference that there were disagreements in cabinet about how PNG was being managed.

“I have made the decision [to resign] as a senior leader and I am very proud that seven other young leaders have also made the decision,” he said. “We know that PNC still has the numbers, but we have made the bold decision to leave because of our principles.”

Gabriel (@GomisRanger) riposted on Twitter, “Did someone hit him in the face to make him realise his principles? Did he even have principles?” This was a reference to Temu’s health portfolio being identified as a hotbed of corruption and inefficiency in PNG. Gabriel's comment was reinforced by social media that Temu's move was opportunistic rather than principled.

As this situation was unfolding, Canberra-based political reporter for The Australian newspaper, Ben Packham, reported that Australian officials were closely watching developments in Port Moresby where public movement had been restricted and an extra 1,000 police deployed ahead of the resumption of parliament.

“The instability has placed a $16 billion gas deal at risk and could force a reframing of one of Australia’s most important bilateral relationships, Packham wrote.

Meanwhile, O’Neill’s backers were saying the opposition probably had only 40 votes, not a majority, and that the prime minister will fight hard to hold onto his job.  Which I'm sure is true. Despite O'Neill being significantly weakened, he will use his considerable political skills and astute use of the courts to try to weave his way through a strengthened and motivated opposition.

Last night both camps (and the media) had given up waiting for a statement from deputy prime minister Charles Abel, who had been expected to call on O’Neill to resign but had not done so.

However, O'Neill's official website was delivering a puzzling error message. Hawk-eyed J Smith (@equanimity500) wrote on Twitter: “When I go to the PNG prime minister's website, I get a message saying, ‘Failed to exec’. See http://www.pm.gov.pg."

As more government politicians flocked to his 'camp', opposition leader Patrick Pruaitch told journalists that all agreements signed by the O’Neill-Abel government will be reviewed if it loses office.

“We will put PNG’s interest first,” Pruaitch said. “For any major agreements concluded recently, we want to assure our country that they will be reviewed. In so far as benefits are concerned, I think it’s time the government took a bold stand.”

But Port Moresby based academic, Dr David Ayres (@davidayres71) offered a reality check on what any new government may bring, tweeting, “Unfortunately it will be same snouts, just a different trough. It’s hardly a recipe for positive transformation.

Back in Canberra, head of the Strategic Policy Institute Peter Jennings told Ben Packham that O’Neill was a “mixed blessing” for Australia. “He has certainly been a tough PM to deal with at times, and there has been a sense of worry that he has allowed himself to get too close to China which clearly is a concern to us,” Jennings said.

“But dealing with PNG is always going to be complicated for Australia - there is historical baggage there, and they are a country that will make decisions according to their interests, which don’t necessarily align with ours.”

Lowy Institute research fellow Shane McLeod told Packham that Australia had invested heavily in its relationship with O’Neill. There would be uncertainty over what comes next, but Australian officials are "familiar with a lot of the players in this situation,” he said.

McLeod said momentum appeared to be with the opposition “but O’Neill won’t be giving up... [He] is in the fight for his political future right now,” he said.

On Twitter, Ali Kasokason (@ConfigGuyPom) quipped, “Next ground breaking ceremony by O’Neill and crew will be at Bomana!” Which is the notorious prison just outside Port Moresby.