MEMBER for Chuave, Hon. James Nomane, has firmly asserted his claim as the legitimate Leader of the Opposition (LO) in Papua New Guinea, following a prolonged leadership dispute that has divided the Opposition caucus and drawn in the Speaker and Prime Minister.
In June 2025, a clear majority of Opposition MPs — ten out of eighteen — endorsed Nomane as their leader. This followed the decision of the incumbent Opposition Leader, Hon. Douglas Tomuriesa, to focus on leading the People’s Progress Party (PPP), effectively reducing his support to a one-man faction.
Despite this majority support, Tomuriesa has refused to step down, citing ambiguous procedural grounds. On 29 July, Speaker Hon. Job Pomat publicly recognized Tomuriesa as Leader of the Opposition and called on the MPs to resolve the matter internally. In response, the majority of Opposition MPs individually reaffirmed their support for Nomane in writing.
The dispute escalated on 8 August when Hon. Brian Kramer interrupted a parliamentary session, citing Section 64 of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) to contest Nomane’s claim.
With backing from Prime Minister James Marape, the Speaker delayed formal recognition of Nomane’s leadership.
In a statement today, Nomane sharply criticized the Speaker’s decision, accusing him, the Prime Minister, and Tomuriesa of succumbing to political pressure.
“The one thing the Prime Minister, Mr. Tomuriesa, and the Speaker have in common is they are all weak as water. It’s a crying shame,” Nomane said.
He vowed to take his case to the National Court if necessary, stating, “If the Speaker does not recognize that I am the legitimate Leader of the Opposition after two votes showing majority support, then the court will.”
Nomane also issued a direct challenge to Tomuriesa, urging him to accept his diminished support and take his place on the government benches.
“I invite Mr. Tomuriesa to stop pretending and take his seat on the government side and watch me fight the good fight for the people of Papua New Guinea,” he said.
Nomane promised strong and uncompromising leadership, pledging to hold Prime Minister Marape and his government accountable.
“No more word salads, no more blabbering, no misfires, no compromise,” he declared.
The leadership standoff highlights ongoing tensions within PNG’s political landscape as the country approaches its 50th independence anniversary.
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