A Grade 12 student from Hagen Park Secondary School was turned away by election officials after attempting to nominate for the Hagen Open seat in the upcoming general elections.
According to The National, the student surprised election officials when he appeared at the electoral office requesting to contest the national elections. However, election manager Philip Telape confirmed that the student was refused nomination because he was underage and did not meet the legal eligibility requirements to contest.
Meanwhile, in another case, Waim-Iner Elvis Thoke, a law student from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG), has temporarily withdrawn from his studies to contest the Enga Regional seat. Thoke will be running against the incumbent, Governor Peter Ipatas, as an independent candidate.
He is among 18 candidates vying for the Enga Regional seat and has received strong support from his fellow university students during the nomination process.