election petitions

The deadline for filing petition was today as allowed for under section 109 of the Electoral Act 2019.

A statement from Moliei Simi Vaai, Chief Executive Officer Ministry of Justice And Courts Administration (MJCA) Registrar of Courts said one petition was filed yesterday, 29 April and the rest were filed today.

Moliei said this means 28 candidates in the recent General Election have raised questions before the Court with regards to the election or the election result against a winning candidate, the Electoral Commissioner or both.

Six such petitions were filed following this year's general election, but later withdrawn by the petitioners following suspected pressure from political parties and village chiefs.

Stricter electoral laws in Samoa have outlawed the practice of treating in which gifts like food, money and fine mats were bestowed on voters by candidates.

Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu believes his client dropped his election petition from the recent general election because of pressure from the villages of the constituency, as well as the respondent's supporters and relatives.

RNZI reports his client, the former Alataua i Sisifo MP, Lafaitele Patrick Leiataualesa, had accused Aliimalemanu Alofa Tu'uau of bribery and treating before the general election last month.