A total of 13 election petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court’s chief registration office before the deadline on Monday, February 22.
The election petitions are over the constituencies of Banks, Malo/Aore, Santo Rural, Luganville, Ambae, Pentecost, Ambrym, Paama, Epi, Efate Rural, Tanna and Tafea Outer islands.
The petitions are especially over allegations of bribery and vote rigging.
Yesterday outside the Supreme Court office, a former MP for Epi constituency, Isabel Donald confirmed Robert Bohn’s petition over allegation of bribery.
She confidently believed voters were seduced by bribery: “Epi constituency has experienced a successful petition in the past where the Supreme Court ruled there was indeed corrupt practice through bribery involving VT250. My petition is no different and is now over alleged VT1000 bribery.”
In the Banks constituency. People’s Progressive Party candidate Dunstan Hilton has filed a petition against National Development Party’s winning candidate. Jack Wona and the electoral commission.
The Graon mo Jastis Pati candidate for Malo/Aore has also filed against late Havo Moli.
In Luganville, Nagriamel candidate, Antoine Pikioune, has filed a petition against both, Matai Seremaiah and Mark Ati.
On Pentecost, runner-up, Vanua’aku Pati’s Richard Leona, who missed out only by a couple of votes, is also challenging the election results.
Veteran National United Party politician on Ambae, James Bule and former MP Richard Mera are filing cases against Jay Ngwele and others.
Newly elected Graon mo Jastis member on Ambrym is also being challenged by former Vanua’aku Pati MP, Maki Simelum.
On Efate, the former GJP member Gillion William is also launching a court challenge against the fifth seat holder, Melanesian progressive Party and Sports Minister, Nato Taiwia.
The Paama constituency elected member, Fred William Tasso is also being challenged by Job Andy of the Vanuatu National Development Party.
The Graon mo Jastis Pati MP for Tanna who narrowly grabbed the 7th seat on the densely populated island is being challenged by his runner-up, Iauko group’s Xavier Emmanuel Harry and candidate Benson Dhapaphan.
And the only seat in the Tafea Outer islands constituency which is currently held by Union of Moderate Party’s Tomker Naling is also being challenged by his runner-up, VP’s Edward Nalyal.
In the past those successful petitioners were the ones whose numbers tied up close to the winning candidates.
The election petitions will be heard next month.