Two election petition cases challenging Jiwaka Governor Simon Kaiwi have reached the last stage of the country’s judicial process — the Supreme Court’s slip rule.
The two matters, filed separately by former governor Dr William Tongamp and petitioner Patrick Nema, were heard together on Wednesday at the Waigani Supreme Court before Justice David Cannings.
Both petitioners had previously succeeded in having the full Supreme Court overturn National Court decisions that dismissed their election challenges. On September 9, a five-man bench ruled in their favour, upholding their review applications.
Governor Kaiwi, through his lawyer Emmanuel Isaac of Emmanuel Lawyers, has since filed two fresh applications. The first seeks to set aside the September 9 ruling on grounds that one of the judges who heard the earlier leave application should not have sat on the full bench. The second seeks leave to pursue a slip rule application.
Justice Cannings yesterday ordered the consolidation of both applications and referred them back to a full five-judge Supreme Court bench for determination.
The Court has scheduled the hearing of the consolidated matters for October 31, 2025, with a status conference set for October 23. All submissions and affidavits are to be filed by October 20, while court transcripts from earlier proceedings are to be produced by October 17.
Lawyers Desmond Kipa (for Nema), Greg Manda (for Dr Tongamp), and Tame Lawyers (for the Electoral Commission) all appeared in court yesterday.
The Supreme Court’s decision on October 31 is expected to be the final chapter in the prolonged battle over the Jiwaka Regional seat.
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