Koim secures over 4000 votes from Pim, leaps to 2nd place

The Dei Open by-election has been turned on its head following the 19th elimination.

Former Internal Revenue Commission [IRC] Commissioner General and Independent candidate Sam Koim has made a massive leap, securing over 4,000 preference votes from the excluded Jeremiah Pim to snatch the second-place spot.

After the 19th exclusion of Jeremiah Pim, with his 7,675 votes, Independent Candidate, Tui Ekil is still maintaining his lead with 18,168 votes.

Sam Koim, now in second place with 17,262 votes, made a huge jump from the fourth place into second with in its climax stage.

In third placing is Desmond Paul Kipa, another Independent candidate, who has moved back from second placing to third with 14,705 votes, and in fourth placing is James Memba Weiya [independent], who has managed to collect a total of 13, 410 votes.

Finishing the race in the top five is another Independent candidate, James Pini, who collected a total of 13,219 votes.

Counting is now into its 20th exclusion of former Dei Open MP, Westly Nukundi Nukundj, with 10,671 votes, and the Absolute Majority now stands at 43,718 votes.

Counting for the Dei By-Election resumed this morning, at the Kimininga Counting Centre in Mt Hagen, after its suspension from yesterday.