PORT MORESBY - Papua New Guinea caretaker Prime Minister, Peter O'Neill has secured the required absolute majority of votes to unofficially retain his Ialibu Pangia Open Seat in the primary count.
After count 82, O'Neill polled over 32,000 votes, going past the required absolute majority of about 31,000 votes.
However, the returning officer says all remaining ballot boxes will have to be counted before a formal declaration is made as the remaining boxes also contain votes for the Provincial Seat.
National broadcaster, NBC reports that votes in 26 ballot boxes for the electorate were disputed after O'Neill secured the seat in the primary count.
However, returning officer Michael Ariando says the boxes should be counted tomorrow to complete the process even though O'Neill has retained the seat.