BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
AS of the official close of nomination for candidates to the Malaita provincial election at 4pm yesterday, 262 candidates are registered to contest the election.
Returning Officer for Malaita province, Mr Pearson Simi officially announced this after the ballot paper draw which also happened yesterday.
He said ballot paper draw for candidates within 30 Wards of 13 constituencies on the mainland Malaita happened in Auki and draw for another three Wards in MOI happened in Honiara.
Simi said for two Wards under East Are Are constituency, Ward 19 with eight candidates and Ward 20 with nine candidates.
He said for another two Wards under East Kwaio, Ward 17 with seven and Ward 18 with eight candidates.
Simi said for three Wards under North Malaita constituency, Ward seven with nine, Ward eight with seven and Ward nine with eight candidates.
He said for two Wards under Fataleka constituency, Ward five with five and Ward 14 with 11 candidates.
Simi said for two Wards under East Malaita constituency, Ward 15 with five and Ward 16 with six candidates.
He said for two Wards under Baegu Asifoloa constituency, Ward 11 with six and Ward 13 with 11 candidates.
Simi said for two Wards under Aoke Langa Langa constituency, Ward one with 12 and Ward 30 with five candidates.
He continued that for three Wards under West Kwaio constituency, Ward 26 with five, Ward 27 with eight and Ward 28 with five candidates.
Simi said for another three Wards under South Malaita constituency, Ward 21 with 10, Ward 22 with seven and Ward 23 with five candidates.
For two wards under West Are Are constituency, Ward 24 with two and Ward 25 with eight candidates, he said.
Simi said for three Wards under Lau/Mbaelelea constituency, Ward six with 10, Ward 10 with 13 and Ward 12 with nine candidates.
He said for two Wards under West Kwara’ae constituency, Ward three with six and Ward four with 17 candidates.
And finally for three Wards under Malaita Outer Islands constituency, Ward 31 with six, Ward 32 with three and Ward 33 with five candidates, Simi said.
He said this is the number of candidates nominated to contest the upcoming provincial election on 12th June 2019.
Simi said date for withdrawal is 22th May 2019 and should any nominated candidate which to do so, advised lodge its withdrawal before 4pm on that day.
