A NUMBER of East Honiara candidates are planning to petition the Governor General and the Electoral Commission over a candidate they suspected of buying votes.
One of the candidates, Alfred Sasako, revealed this last night after counting was called off.
“We are working on a joint letter of petition which is expected to be delivered to the governor general tomorrow (today),” Mr Sasako said.
He said their petition will be against one of the 26 believed to have practised bribery during his campaign.
“According to information we got from the counting so far, that candidate is leading the tally and that strengthens the evidences we have of bribery,” he said.
Mr Sasako claimed that candidate got the highest number of votes in almost all polling stations counted.
“This points to something suspicious here,” he said.
Mr Sasako said democracy is not cheap and if it means re-election, they are prepared to do it again.
He said five candidates have already agreed to take up the petition against this candidate.
Candidate Silas Milikada was leading the tally when counting was called off.
Meanwhile, the large crowed that waited anxiously for the results of East Honiara constituency returned after waiting for 48 hours when the counting was called off last night.
This happened at around 9pm on the advice of the Electoral Commissioner John Babalu.
Police at the counting scene noted a number of uncooperative activities advised Mr Babalu who ordered that counting be called off.
Acting Police Commissioner Peter Marshall said police only advised the electoral commissioner of the situation.
“The decision to call off the counting came from the electoral commission after seeking approval from the Speaker,” Mr Marshall said.
“We advised the electoral commissioner that the returning officer needs rest because he was falling asleep,” Mr Marshall said.
He said the returning officer worked 48 hours and need some rest.
“Another thing was some counting agents left and never returned and that one candidate entered the counting room and was very harsh on counting agents,” he said.
Mr Marshall said the significant issue was security.
“The impatient crowd was angry and a stone was thrown at a police vehicle there,” he said.
He said these matters were reported to the Electoral Commissioner who seek permission from the speaker.
Babalu advised that counting be stopped until today.
Twenty one of the 37 polling stations have already been counted when counting was called of last night.
In Lau-Baelelea Constituency, Malaita, counting continued overnight and results are expected today.
Source: Solomon Star
