Eight runners-up declared to fill vacant councillor seats

The Electoral Commission yesterday released the names of eight unsuccessful candidates from the provincial council elections who will fill the vacant seats left by council members who resigned to contest the early general election earlier this year. These unsuccessful candidates met the relevant regulations and were therefore declared the winners, allowing them to take over the positions of the original council members.

Prior to announcing the list, Electoral Commission Chairman Edward Kaltamat explained that, according to the new electoral law, unsuccessful candidates must obtain at least 70% of the total votes received by the former council member to be eligible to occupy the seat. If an unsuccessful candidate fails to meet this threshold, a by-election will be held. In cases where multiple candidates meet the threshold, the candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner to fill the vacancy.

According to Kaltamat, a total of nine council members resigned to contest the early election, three council members lost their seats due to missing three consecutive meetings, and another council member voluntarily resigned, creating a total of 13 vacant seats. The commission is actively addressing these vacancies to ensure the normal functioning of the provincial councils.

Across the various provincial councils, the specific situations are as follows: Yeye Selino Stark was declared the winning candidate for the Mere Lava constituency in the Torba Provincial Government Council, succeeding Sowan Harry Edmund, who resigned to contest the election. In the Sanma Provincial Council, Tamata Tavu Nicholas succeeded Valavala Siriale, who lost his seat due to missing three consecutive meetings. The second vacant seat in that council, left by Franklin William Ezra, who resigned to contest the election, could not be filled because the unsuccessful candidates did not meet the threshold, and a by-election will therefore be held.

The Malekula constituency of the Malampa Provincial Council has two vacant seats, one because council member Steven Warren resigned to contest the election, and the other because Wilfred Patuwanwa voluntarily resigned. Natnaul Graeme and Malinge Starky Hahafarelenb were declared the winning unsuccessful candidates. Robinson Saley and Kenneth Tabiguru Glenbo will occupy the vacant seats in the Penama Provincial Council left by Matty Finn Long and Harry Timas, who resigned to contest the election. In the Tafea Provincial Government Council, Nakams Jack and Peter Tamaku were declared the winners to fill the vacant seats left by Malcolm John Luak and Nasara Tom Willy Nipiko, who lost their seats due to missing three consecutive meetings.

The Electoral Commission Chairman stated that the other five vacant seats will be filled through by-elections. Kaltamat said that the commission will announce the schedule for the by-elections at a later date. The commission will do its best to ensure that the by-elections are conducted smoothly and will promptly release relevant information to the public.