by-election

The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly has issued a notice of the vacant seat in the House, which will now trigger the by-election process.

RNZ Pacific reports Tapunu'u Niko Lee Hang, who had a long career in Parliament, died on November 29. He represented the opposition Human Rights Protection Party.

A date has yet to be set for the by-election.

The dates for the voter registrations commenced today and will continue until 6 May at the Office of the Electoral Commission at Mulinuu.

Special Registration Programmes within the Gagaifomauga 2 constituency will take place on Thursday and Friday for the villages of Faletagaloa, Fatuvalu; Leagiagi; Lefagaoalii; Matavai; Paia; Samauga and Safune.

In a warrant issued on Tuesday, Tuimalealiifano said that Fuiono is now a Member of Parliament as of the 24 November, 2021.

The first official election warrant issued by the Head of State, on Monday did not include the Falealupo seat.

Last week, the Supreme Court disqualified the candidacy of HRPP candidate, Tuitogamanaia Dr Peniamina Leavai handing the Falealupo seat over to FAST candidate Fuiono.

To date there are four new Members of Parliament declared under the HRPP banner and five for the FAST party.

Following the preliminary counting on Friday night, only Sagaga 2 and A'ana Alofi 2 had been retained by the Human Rights Protection Party.

Their numbers now increase to 20 but A'ana Alofi 2 preliminary winner is only ahead by a slender 9 votes with special votes and pre-polling results yet to be counted.

According to the Office of the Electoral Commission, pre-polling votes are being held at the main Police station in Apia.

Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio said special votes will be sorted at 2pm today.

The Samoa Observer reports Faleomavaega will be standing for the governing Faatuatua I Le Atua Samoa ua Tasi party, in the November 26 by-election.

Faleomavaega's brother, Tafua Maluelue, held the seat before the April 9 General Elections this year but lost to another HRPP candidate Fiugalu Eteuati.

Tafua filed a petition against Fiugalu which led to the court upholding charges of treating and bribery and voiding the Fiugalu win.

This comes after the Speaker of the House, Leaupepe Toleafoa Fa'afisi declared the seat vacant following the verbal resignation of Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt.

Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio told TV1 Samoa the registrations will go ahead despite Laaulialemalietoa telling media he had not given a written resignation.

He claims he had only told the Speaker he was setting up a new political party that his constituency had called for.

This by-election will be the first under new electoral constituencies.

In a statement posted on Laauli's social media platform, the constituency has called for the MP to remain in the seat and establish a new political party to save Samoa.

The constituency has also advised the MP not to give a written resignation.

The speaker, Leaupepe Toleafoa Fa'afisi, has ordered the MP to hand in a written resignation after Laauli made the announcement last Tuesday.

One of the party's two candidates, and former Manu Samoa rugby team manager, Namulau'ulu Sami Leota, has secured a win with a landslide victory with the total of 1,208 votes in the official count.

The other HRPP candidate and a former opposition Tautua Samoa party MP, Papalii Li'o Ta'eu Masipa'u, came third with 564 votes while the independent candidate whose father held the seat before he passed away in January, Maileimalo Eneliko Pa'u, came second with 685 votes.

The Samoa First party candidate, Lema'i Faioso Sione, came fourth with only 14 votes.