Tui Ekil maintaining lead after 17th elimination

Monday, 16 February 2026, 4:35 pm

Elimination 17 (16/02/26) saw Independent candidate Kunjil (Raps) Konga excluded after polling 6,363 votes. Elimination 18 is now underway, with Independent candidate John Balg Wamp on 7,041 votes. (NBC News)

As of 2pm today, following the 17th elimination of Candidate Number 12, Kunjil Raps Konga, who polled 6,363 votes, the race for the Dei Open seat remains tight.

Independent candidate Tui Ekil continues to lead with 17,452 votes, followed by James Pini in second place on 12,723 votes. Sam Koim sits third with 12,273 votes, closely trailed by Desmond Paul Kipa on 12,239 votes. Rounding out the top five is James Memba Weiya with 11,669 votes.

At the time of this report, counting had moved into the 18th elimination, involving Candidate Number 22, John Balg Wamp, who secured 7,041 votes.

Five ballot boxes remain to be counted.

Five more eliminations are expected before a winner is declared, unless a candidate secures an absolute majority (50 plus 1 vote).