Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru has left the People First Party and has formed his own political party along with two other former party members ahead of the 2027 National General Election.
This latest political part, the Nesenel United Pati (NUP), was launched today with Minister and Member (MP) for Yangoru Saussia Richard Maru, Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa and Member for Maprik, Libert Kapris as the founding members. The party’s secretary is Mr. Dominic Krasombi.
Minister Maru said the NUP will be anchored on three core values: God first, people second, and the leader being the last.
“Our mission as a political party is to cast a new vision for our country,” said the Party Leader.
Maru said so many things have been done in the same old ways and it's not working, especially in a time where new technology and innovations are changing the way the world works. He added that in such time, it requires new leadership and vision in order to rip the benefits of investments and trade with partner countries and translate it into real benefits for the people.
“Our party is here to inspire our nation, giving the people hope, Together, we are going to build a united, strong and more prosperous Papua New Guinea,” Maru said.
The NUP is teaming up with the PNG Party where Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture and MP for Vanimo Green, Belden Namah, is party leader.
The two leaders also signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) today, sealing their partnership in working together going into the National General Election next year and forming a new government in 2027.
The Registrar of Political Parties Mr. Emmanuel Pok officially handed over the certificate of the new party to Minister Maru after being satisfied that all legal requirements were met to establish the newest political party.
He said this now makes a total of 44 registered Political Parties in the country, where 23 of them have members in parliament.
Now that the NUP has been launched and the MoA signed with PNG Party, the focus now is shifted to the 2027 National General Election. Minister Maru said they will be aggressive in getting candidates to run under their party banner in the hope to get enough candidates elected to parliament, so as to have the chance to form a new government to run on their policies and visions.
