All four candidates for the Governor-General's post have been rejected by the Clerk of Parliament in Papua New Guinea.
Clerk Ano Pala rejected Sir Albert Kipalan, Sir Joseph Nombri, Sir Pato Kakaraya and Sir Paulias Matane because of defects in their nomination forms.
The National newspaper reports the candidates could challenge the Clerk's decision in court or they could allow the Speaker to call for fresh nominations next Tuesday.
Mr Pala says under the Organic Law the Clerk may reject a proposal for nomination if: the proposal is not in the prescribed form, the proposal is not signed by at least 15 MPs and if he has reasonable cause to believe and does believe that a person nominated, is not qualified for appointment as Governor-General.
During the first two failed elections, the Supreme Court ruled in two separate decisions that a proposal form for the nomination of Governor-General must strictly comply with requirements of the Organic Law.
Some of the defects included East New Britain Provincial not spelt in full and April not being spelt correctly
