PNG political parties ignoring election guidelines again

6:47 pm on 24 October 2016

Papua New Guinea political parties have been warned not to undertake "roadshows" throughout the country before the election campaign period official begins.

PNG will have its five-yearly general elections in mid-2017 but already several major parties are effectively in campaign mode, according to the Registrar of Political Parties and Candidates.

Dr Alphonse Gelu told the Post Courier that major parties have also failed to submit their official written campaign plans to his office before undertaking them.

Dr Gelu appealed to all parties to present their plans in order to avoid eroding the democratic conduct of PNG's elections.

He says major parties have also failed to attend compulsory pre-election workshops.

It's the latest in a long line of frustrations for the Registrar who has previously spoken out over the failure of parties to submit their expenses at the last election, and failure of numerous MPs to declare financial returns.