Overview
Ezekiel Anisi (1 September 1988 – 24 May 2017) was a Papua New Guinean politician best known for being the youngest person elected to the country's National Parliament. He represented the electorate of Ambunti-Dreikikir Open in East Sepik Province. His parliamentary career was marked by a brief removal from office after the 2012 election and a successful return in a subsequent by-election.
Entry to Parliament and legal challenge
Anisi was first declared the winner of the Ambunti-Dreikikir Open seat following the 2012 national election and took his seat in August of that year. Shortly afterwards his election was the subject of a legal challenge; the National Court later ruled that he should be unseated. The circumstances behind the court decision involved electoral dispute procedures and were handled through Papua New Guinea's judicial review processes.
By-election and service
After being removed from Parliament, Anisi stood again and regained the seat in a by-election held in December 2013. He served as the local representative until his death in 2017. During his time in office he was noted for being unusually young for a national legislator, and his presence highlighted discussions about youth participation in politics and the representation of remote riverine and rural communities in the national legislature.
Significance and role
Anisi's political profile drew attention for several reasons: his age, the nature of electoral dispute resolution in Papua New Guinea, and the political dynamics of East Sepik Province. As representative of Ambunti-Dreikikir Open, his role connected a sparsely populated, largely rural electorate to national decision-making, illustrating challenges common to MPs from remote constituencies such as infrastructure, service delivery and local governance.
Death and aftermath
On 24 May 2017, Ezekiel Anisi died at a guesthouse in Port Moresby at the age of 28. Reports described the cause as a possible cardiac arrest. His death occurred weeks before the 2017 general election, prompting both local and national reactions and renewed interest in the administration of his electorate ahead of the vote. For contemporary reports and follow-up coverage see news summaries and profiles and reported medical updates at official notices. Location details were reported from Port Moresby sources; further context is available via regional media accounts.
Notable facts
- Born 1 September 1988; died 24 May 2017 (aged 28).
- Represented Ambunti-Dreikikir Open, East Sepik Province.
- First served in Parliament in August 2012, unseated later that year by a National Court ruling.
- Returned to Parliament after a December 2013 by-election and served until his death.
- Recognized as the youngest MP in Papua New Guinea during his tenure.
The arc of Anisi's career illustrates how electoral contests, legal review, and by-elections operate within Papua New Guinea's parliamentary system, and how the presence of young elected officials can influence public discussion on representation and governance.