23 May 2018

Five to contest by-election in Solomons Western Province

9:17 am on 23 May 2018

Election campaigns are in full swing in Western Province of Solomon Islands ahead of Wednesday's by-election.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo

Gordon Darcy Lilo Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades

According to the Solomon Star newspaper, five candidates, including a former prime minister are contesting for the Gizo Kolombangara seat.

It became vacant after the constituency's former representative, Jimson Tanangada, was found guilty of bribing voters during the national election in 2014.

Mr Tanangada has not been allowed to contest in the by-election but he is supporting his wife Lanelle Tanangada's candidacy.

She and the former prime minister, Gordon Darcy Lilo, are the main contenders according to the local paper.

It was Mr Lilo who filed the successful election petition against Mr Tanangada after his surprise loss in the 2014 poll.

The five candidates contesting for the seat 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) and Lanelle Tanangada and Ronald Phillipe Dive, both contest as independent candidates.