Woman amongst candidates
By AATAI JOHN LAUNGI
A WOMAN is among five candidates who will contest the Gizo-Kolombangara by-election on May 23.
She is Lanelle Tanangada, wife of former MP Jimson Tanangada, and a teacher by profession.
Returning Officer for Gizo-Kolobangara Constituency Chris Siale confirmed Mrs Tanangada’s candidacy when the nominations closed yesterday evening.
Former prime minister and the previous MP for Gizo-Kolombangara, Gordon Darcy Lilo, is also vying to get the seat back.
The other three candidates are Peter Sogoilo, who’s contesting under the Democratic Alliance Party banner, Kenneth Bulehite, United Democratic Party, and Ronald Philip Dive, an independent candidate.
Mrs Tanangada, a Waikato University graduate, is contesting as an independent, whilst Mr Lilo is contesting using a Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA) ticket.
The by-election becomes necessary after the High Court last November declared Jimson Tanangada’s election victory in 2014 null and void.
This was after Justice Rex Foukona found him guilty of bribing voters to vote for him in an election petition Mr Lilo filed.
Mr Siale said the five candidates have 72 hours to withdraw their candidacies.
He added notices will be put up in the constituency today to confirm the names of the five candidates.
He appealed to voters in the constituency to respect the election process to ensure peace and order on polling day.
