Papua New Guinea's National Court has legitimised Gulf Governor Chris Haiveta's position as the Pangu Pati's parliamentary leader.
The court was ruling on an application by Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu, New Ireland Governor Ian Ling-Stuckey, and Kavieng MP Martin Aini seeking a declaration that their expulsion from the party was null and void.
The application had also sought a declaration that Sir Rabbie is the duly elected party leader.
But deputy Chief Justice Salamo Injia declared that all resolutions passed at two Pangu meetings on November 26 2002 chaired by Mr Haiveta and in February 23 this year by Mr Ling-Stuckey were invalid.
These consequently nullified the expulsion of Sir Rabbie, Mr Ling-Stuckey and Mr Aini from the party and reinstated their membership but removed Sir Rabbie's purported claims to the party's parliamentary leadership.
The court further ruled that the party's six MPs meet in Parliament tomorrow when the House sits to settle the leadership issue through a vote witnessed by the Registrar of Political Parties and the Parliament Clerk.
