The National Court in Popondetta on Friday August 16th, has dismissed an election petition challenging Governor Gary Juffa's 2022 victory for Northern Province. The petition, filed by Mrs. Jean Eparo Parkop, accused Juffa of election bribery through his agents. However, the court found no evidence to support these claims. The petition originally included complaints against the Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea, but these were dismissed in May 2023. The court then focused on the bribery allegations. Despite six witnesses testifying, their evidence was inconsistent and lacked support. A key allegation was that on July 8, 2022, Oro Provincial Administrator Trevor Magei gave cash to a local councillor to distribute to voters in exchange for their support for Juffa. The court found no proof linking this cash to Juffa and deemed the witnesses' testimonies untrustworthy. The court ruled that the petitioner failed to provide direct evidence of bribery from Juffa and dismissed the claims as speculative. Governor Juffa spoke to the media outside the courthouse, expressing his gratitude to the people of Oro for their support. “This victory belongs to the people of Oro,” Juffa said. “I had no doubts about our position. We have maintained our integrity, and the allegations against me and other respected professionals and leaders were entirely baseless and unnecessary.” He also mentioned plans to review Papua New Guinea’s defamation laws due to the damage caused by the accusations. “We can now redirect our focus to the important work that lies ahead without the distraction of these unfounded claims,” Juffa added. Juffa encouraged those wrongfully accused to consider legal action to address the harm to their reputations. He also thanked the people of Oro for their continued support, attributing the court’s decision to their steadfast backing.