Ishmael Toroama is closing in on the Bougainville presidency.
Ishmael Toroama Photo: Facebook
This, after the elimination of a former Minister for Bougainville affairs in the Papua New Guinea government, Fidelis Semoso.
Semoso is also a former MP in the autonomous Bougainville government.
Mr Toroama, the former commander of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army, now has a lead of more than 17,000 votes over second placed Father Simon Dumarinu.
He has 47,145 votes and importantly, after this 21st elimination, the figure needed for an absolute majority has come down further, at 59,041.
The next person to face elimination is fourth placed former Bougainville chief secretary, Thomas Raivet.
Punghau ready and willing to help despite losing seat
Albert Punghau, who was one of the biggest names to fall in the Bougainville election, says he stands ready to help the new administration.
Punghau, who had been the Minister of Peace Agreement Implementation, lost his Motuna Huyono Tokunutui seat in the Siwai district, to Zacharias Nungnung.
He said he had done well in the initial vote but missed out on preferences.
But he said losing was no concern.
Punghau said the plight of Bougainville was much more important than any individual.
"Bougainville is not Albert Punghau It is much more greater than all of us, so we will need to work together to move the process, the peace agreement process and the referendum process, going to the consultation on ratification and independence on Bougainville.
"So I'm ready to work with the new administration, the new president, whoever it's going to be."
Bougainville's Minister for Peace Agreement Implementation, Albert Punghau Photo: supplied