election petition

The challenge was filed by the former justice minister, Don Ken, who lost his Malekula seat in the March elections.

Mr Ken had accused Mr Shedrack of bribery and corruption during the election campaign on Malekula.

But the Supreme Court threw out the case citing a lack of evidence.

Ten election petitions have been filed against MPs in Vanuatu, all have failed.

SODELPA, with the National Federation Party, had presented the petition, challenging aspects of the election process.

They planned to call eight witnesses but the court approved only two.

The parties then withdrew the petition.

Mr Rabuka said it was a decision not taken lightly.

He said the parties believed all eight witnesses were crucial to establishing the grounds for the petition.

Both the Supreme Court and the Electoral Office confirmed that Dr. Richard Leona, an independent candidate, has lodged an election petition and is calling for a recount of the results in the above constituency.

The constituency of Pentecost has four seats and after conflicting unofficial results between two candidates for the 4th seat, the final official results put Dr. Leona with 579 votes, a difference of eight votes from National United Party’s Ham Lini who secured 587 votes.

The Supreme Court Registry Office said a date is yet to be set for the hearing.

The election petitions are against the Kia-Hograno-Havulei Member of Parliament Jeremiah Manele, Northwest Guadalcanal MP Bodo Detkke, Fataleka MP Steve Abana, the Central Islands MP Bartholomew Parapolo, and the Member of Parliament for Temotu-Vatud Freda Comua.

The petitions were lodged by losing candidates in the National General elections last year.

A total of fifteen election petition were lodged after last year’s National General Elections, most of them citing bribery, treating and undue influence among their claims.