# 1987 Papua New Guinean general election

General elections were held in Papua New Guinea between 13 June and 4 July 1987. The Pangu Party emerged as the largest party, winning 26 of the 109 seats. Voter turnout was 73.5%.

## Results

None of the eighteen female candidates were elected, leading to the first all-male National Parliament in Papua New Guinea's history.
Following the elections, all 22 elected independents joined parties, while two National Party MPs defected; the People's Democratic Movement (PDM) gained nine MPs, the People's Action Party eight, the People's Progress Party (PPP) five, and the Pangu Party and United Party one. The three vacant seats were later won by the National Party, PDM and PPP.
| Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– |
| | Pangu Pati | 408,082 | 14.93 | 26 | –25 |
| | People's Democratic Movement | 298,715 | 10.93 | 17 | New |
| | People's Progress Party | 168,280 | 6.16 | 5 | –9 |
| | Melanesian Alliance Party | 153,611 | 5.62 | 7 | –1 |
| | National Party | 135,761 | 4.97 | 12 | –1 |
| | League for National Advancement | 132,001 | 4.83 | 3 | New |
| | People's Action Party | 87,836 | 3.21 | 6 | New |
| | United Party | 87,243 | 3.19 | 1 | –8 |
| | Morobe Independent Group | 60,922 | 2.23 | 4 | New |
| | Papua Party | 34,636 | 1.27 | 3 | 0 |
| | Papua Besena | 17,122 | 0.63 | 0 | –3 |
| | Wantok Party | 17,028 | 0.62 | 0 | New |
| | Country Party | 10,743 | 0.39 | 0 | New |
| | Leiba Party | 2,611 | 0.10 | 0 | New |
| | National Settlement Party | 164 | 0.01 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | 1,117,635 | 40.90 | 22 | +18 |
| Vacant | Vacant | | | 3 | – |
| Total | Total | 2,732,390 | 100.00 | 109 | 0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 1,355,477 | – | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 1,843,128 | 73.54 | | |
| Source: Saffu, Nohlen et al. ||||||

## Aftermath

The newly elected Parliament met on 5 August to elect the Prime Minister. Incumbent Prime Minister Paias Wingti defeated former Prime Minister Michael Somare by a vote of 54 to 51. Wingti formed a 25-member cabinet, with Minister of Education Aruru Matiabe also serving as Acting Foreign Minister due to the previous incumbent Ted Diro being accused of corruption during an ongoing inquiry. Diro was instead appointed as a minister without portfolio.
Wingti cabinet :
| Position | Minister |
| Prime Minister | Paias Wingti |
| Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Trade and Industry | Julius Chan |
| Minister for Administrative Services | Johnson Maladina |
| Minister for Agriculture and Livestock | Gai Duwabane |
| Minister for Civil Aviation | Hugo Berghuser |
| Minister for Communications | Gabriel Ramoi |
| Minister for Corrective Institutions | Aron Noaio |
| Minister for Defence | James Pokasui |
| Minister for Education | Aruru Matiabe |
| Minister for Environment and Conservation | Perry Zeipi |
| Minister for Finance and Planning | Galeva Kwarara |
| Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources | Alan Ebu |
| Minister for Forests | Tom Horik |
| Minister for Health | Tim Ward |
| Minister for Home Affairs and Youth | Eserom Burege |
| Minister for Housing | Tom Amaiu |
| Minister for Justice | Albert Kipalan |
| Minister for Labour and Employment | Masket Iangalio |
| Minister for Lands and Physical Planning | Kalas Swokim |
| Minister for Minerals and Energy | John Kaputin |
| Minister for Police | Legu Vagi |
| Minister for Public Service | Dennis Young |
| Minister for Transport | Roy Yaki |
| Minister for Works | Aita Ivarato |
| Minister without Portfolio | Ted Diro |