Election fever hits Gizo/Kolo as by- election nears
By LYNNISSHA RUNA
WITH only two solid days left before the much awaited by-election for Gizo/Kolombangara constituency, election related fever is getting intense.
Reports reaching the paper over the weekend said, the election fever is now getting hotter by the day in the lead-up to the polling day – May 23.
Five candidates are racing for the top post and come Wednesday, the nation should know who will be their new Member of Parliament (MP).
Updates about the situation on the ground has gone viral via the social media with only two more days left for voters go to the poll.
Out of the five candidates only two appeared to have their names being highlighted as top contenders in the social media poll. They are Lanelle Tanangada and the former Prime Minister (PM) Gordon Darcy Lilo.
In light of the tense final situation, supporters of these two candidates are confronting each others in social media forum by raising serious allegations against their rival.
It was also reported there were boat loads visiting various communities and villages during campaign time. Entertainment were also a highlight.
In Gizo there were parades along the road before the launch of campaign activities.
Since the declaration of by-election date and confirmation of the five candidates last month most of the candidates have gone on campaign trail which had interestingly shown constituents welcoming their favorable candidates.
Its understood a good number of voters and supporters based in Honiara have left over the weekend by boat bound for the constituency to cast their votes.
Meanwhile police are on standby and well prepared in numbers to monitor the situation in the constituency, during the polling day.
Returning Officer Chris Siale has announced the five candidates are; Gordon Darcy Lilo of the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement (SIPRA), Peter Sogoilo of Democratic Alliance Pary (DAP), Kenneth Bulehite of United Democratic Party (UDP), Lanelle Tanangada and Ronald Phillipe Dive, whom both contest as independent candidates.
Mrs Tanangada is the wife of the former Member of Parliament for Gizo-Kolobangara Jimson Tanangada.
The by-election was made possible after the MP for the constituency Mr. Tanangada was disqualified by the High Court from his parliamentary seat, for bribing voters during the last election.
The winning candidate will take up office for six months since parliament will dissolve in 17th of December this year (2018).
