News and Public Notices

The Writ for the South Bougainville Ex-Combatants Seat By-Election has been returned to the Assistant Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives Hon. Charles Kakapetai by the Acting Bougainville Electoral Commissioner Desmond Tsianai at 4:30pm(BST) today.

Before returning the Writ, Acting Commissioner Desmond Tsianai recalled how challenging this by-election was. He said the many internal changes that the OBEC went through during the election period brought about huge challenges which forced his office to delay the election dates.

Past election outstanding issues with service providers in South Bougainville also slowed the smooth conduct of the by-election.

However, despite all the challengers, Acting Commissioner Tsianai acknowledged all stakeholders who were involved in the successful conduct of the by-election.

"I would like to thank the Autonomous Bougainville Government for the financial support, the Returning Officer and all his Assistant Returning Officers for the by-election, the people of South Bougainville, the Bougainville Police Service personnel in North and South Bougainville and my staff at the Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner for conducting a successful and trouble free election.”  

Tsianai while expressing his gratitude to all stakeholders thanked all the service providers for the by-election for their patience and understanding and said he hopes to have all services rendered during the conduct of the by-election paid as soon as possible.

Tsianai added that since the establishment, the Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner has never failed any elections it is mandated to facilitate in the region and this trend will be maintained in any elections in future as well.

He further stated that a one-month period will be given to those who may be thinking to dispute the election results through the court of disputed returns as stipulated in Section 20 of the Bougainville Elections Act 2007.

[ Back to News ]