Samoa general elections

Samoa Electoral Commissioner's action 'unconstitutional' says FAST

The Electoral Commissioner announced last night that Ali'imalemanu Moti Momoemausu Alofa Tuuau would become the 52nd MP to ensure that a minimum of 10 percent of seats in the parliament are held by women.

In the poll 12 days ago, five women were elected and FAST party leader, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, said they considered that that satisfied the constitutional requirement, because the document specifies five seats for women.

Samoa election result hailed as victory for women

Her FAST party is on the cusp of a major upset after Friday's vote, leaving incumbent Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi fighting for his political life after 22 years in office.

The result is even more extraordinary because FAST has managed to challenge one of the world's longest-serving democratically elected leaders just nine months after the party was formed.

Independents 'hold power' in forming next Samoa govt

The Electoral Commission now has the FAST party in the lead with 25 seats followed by the HRPP with 24 seats in the 51 seat parliament.

Independent, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio won the seat of Gagaemanuga No 1, and Tautua Samoa's Tamaleta Taimang Jensen won Vaimauga No 2.

The Human Rights Protection Party, the HRPP, has been in power close to four decades.

The Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party leader, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, told reporters during a media conference that the number of seats her party had won was 25.

Samoa HRPP and FAST parties 25 seats tie on preliminary count

The Faatuatua ile Atua Samoa ua Tasi party leader, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, told reporters the number of seats her party has won in a media conference last night while the office of the Electoral Commission was still counting the preliminary results.

An independent candidate, Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio, who won the seat for Gaga'emauga number one is now the king maker for both parties to form a new government.

But FAST party leader said the process of negotiating with the independent candidate would be carried out soon.

Samoa's HRPP party faces stiff challenge as general voting begins

After four days of pre-polling, the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) leads with 27 seats, Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) leads in 20 seats, and Tautua Samoa Party leads in one constituency.

There's a dead heat between HRPP and FAST in another constituency.

HRPP which has controlled Samoa for close to four decades, is facing its stiffest challenge yet from FAST.

Led by former HRPP deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa, FAST looks set to cause major upsets.

It has a chance of taking control of the reins of power.

Pre-polling in Samoa has ruling party with a slim lead

This is the first election that the Electoral Commission is announcing daily results from the pre-polling.

The ruling Human Rights Protection Party has a slender lead over the less than 12 month old Faatuatua I le Atoa Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party following counting of day three of voting across the country.

Some constituencies have had changes in election results over the three days but some indicate strong support for either HRPP or FAST.

Former Samoa police officer charged for harming poll candidate

A former deputy speaker of Parliament, who's contesting this week's general election, had filed the complaint with police.

The offender told EFKS TV in an interview that the former deputy speaker, who is also a former policeman, had allegedly raped a woman officer.

The complainant on social media has denied the allegation and questions the timing of it, just ahead of the election.

The accused is now in police custody awaiting appearance in court, but is understood to be seeking bail.

Samoa to live stream general elections updates on Facebook

The live stream is a collaborative partnership with the Samoa Alliance of Media Practitioners for Development, WTmedia - Samoa, communications expert Jordan Kwan and graphic design experts Thomas Sauao.

Vaasiliega Iupati Lagaaia and the OEC Public Relations Officer working closely with Wtmedia and partners, to coordinate the live stream.

This is an effort to ensure that our communities are informed and kept up to date with the outcome of the election.

Three charged ahead of Samoan elections

The Samoa Observer newspaper reported the trio were facing charges of general forgery and forging documents relating to pre-poll ballots.

The report said the men were from Vaiusu village and they were supporters of candidate Faumuina Wayne Fong, who was running for the Faleata. 2 constituency under the Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi party.

The candidate confirmed the charges, but would not comment further as the matter was with party lawyers.

Faumuina said the case would appear for mention on 29 April.

Academic says Samoa's FAST party getting around village blocks

Samoa goes to the polls on 9 April.

Victoria University's Dr Iati Iati said FAST had been successful at adopting new technology and social media to communicate.

The politics and international relations senior lecturer said the move by some village chiefs to block the party from physically campaigning had limited success in the digital age.

"Nearly everyone has a cellphone. Everyone can communicate very easily with everyone so while they may have restricted FAST's engagement with certain villages etc, FAST's message is, it's getting through to the people."