The challenger in a long running election dispute over Papua New Guinea's Chimbu regional seat has accepted he has lost.
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Johnny Blades
The Post Courier reported that Noah Kool has accepted a National Court decision to uphold the 2017 election win of incumbent Chimbu Governmor Michael Dua.
Mr Kool, the former governor, had challenged the election result over alleged errors and illegalities in the vote count.
The court ordered a recount of votes, which foundthat Mr Dua had won.
Mr Kool initially disputed the results of the recount, but now says he accepts the result to allow Mr Dua to be governor in the interests of the Chimbu people.
He told the newspaper that he had been through a difficult time in pursuing justice over an election which he described as lacking transparency.
According to Mr Kool he had been arrested and charged with attempted murder by police in Port Moresby in a politically motivated case.