THE Peoples National Congress Party or PNC has endorsed two candidates for the Maprik and Sohe By-Elections.

Hildeanne Wefin, a former banking finance executive and founder of WomenLink PNG will contest the Maprik Open seat in East Sepik province. 

Ms Wefin holds two Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Applied Finance. 

Party Leader, Peter O’Neill said Hildanne Wefin’s dedication to gender equality and her impressive educational background and extensive professional experience make her the right choice.

The seat was left vacant following the death of then MP and PNC man, Gabriel Kapris who passed on in August 2023. 

Meanwhile, the Sohe Open seat in the Northen province was left vacant after a Supreme Court Ruling in November last year that upheld a National Court decision declaring the election of Pangu Party’s Henry Amuli null and void due to bribery. 

Amuli is recontesting this seat under the Pangu banner.

Sixteen candidates are contesting the Sohe Open seat including only female candidate Delilah Gore, the petitioner in the Court of Disputed Returns. 

In the 2022 National General Elections, she contested under the PNC banner, however, in this by-election, the former MP (2012 -2017) has been endorsed by Social Democratic Party while PNC has endorsed Paulinias Uhena, the runner up in 2022. 

Uhena is a former senior public servant who served as Manager Finance with the Oro Provincial Administration for 35 years. 

The Maprik and Sohe by-elections will be held simultaneously with polling scheduled to start 25th May and end 29th May 2024.

Writs will be returned from 14th June to 18th June 2024.