The opposition's candidate for prime minister in Papua New Guinea, James Marape, has reportedly joined the Pangu Pati.
Papua New Guinea government MP James Marape outside the national court in Waigani after an electoral petition against him was dismissed. Photo: Melvin Levongo
Loop PNG reported Mr Marape and 15 other MPs, who recently quit the ruling People's National Congress Party, had accepted an invitation to join Pangu.
Pangu leader and Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu confirmed to RNZ Pacific the invitation had been extended.
Mr Saonu said it was yet to be decided if the party's leader would be changed.
Earlier, it was announced that six MPs who recently quit Pangu, after its former leader Sam Basil aligned it with the government, had returned to the party.
The resignations and movements between the parties are the prelude to a parliamentary vote of no confidence in prime minister Peter O'Neill, expected in the coming weeks.