Candidate for Governor Faoa Aitofele Sunia has received the assurance from Election Commissioner Uiagalelei Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei that the Election Office staffer whom Faoa identified as having distributed voter IDs outside of election procedure will be thoroughly investigated.
In his letter to the election commissioner, Faoa had named the staffer as Lealoifi Saelua daughter of the Governor’s Chief of Staff, Fiu Johnny Saelua, also the co chairman of the Lolo and Lemanu Campaign Committee.
In addition, Faoa claimed that directors and supervisors were collecting election petition signatures inside government offices. The election commissioner says this will be referred to the Attorney General’’s Office.
Uiagalelei responds to concerns raised by Faoa about the conduct of Election Office staff and the Election Commissioner himself, in a September13 letter.
He says he takes the ‘urgent matters” that Faoa raised very variously and has reviewed them carefully.
Faoa’s complaint also referred to Election Office staff delivering voter IDs to individuals, and others outside the Election Office picking up IDs , without proper legal authorization as required by election law.
Uiagalelei said office staff have been strongly reminded about election procedures on the distribution of voter ids , he said any staff found deliberately circumventing such procedures will be dealt with accordingly.
Faoa had also mentioned that directors and supervisors of departments have collected inside government offices the signatures for the petition of his opponents referring to the incumbents.
In response, Uiagalelei said this claim shall be referred to the Attorney General’s Office for appropriate action.
Faoa questioned Uiagalelei’s impartiality and integrity in conducting fair and unbiased elections when he and the governor have been socializing, he and his staff hosted a cabinet meeting, and he was told that Uiagalelei provided refreshments for a meeting of Lolo and Lemanu’s campaign committee.
Uiagalelei flatly refutes that he provided refreshments for the Lolo Lemanu campaign committee.
He said, “it’s Unfortunate the source of the information was not properly vetted since the accusation is not true” and one which he “categorically denies.”
About hosting the cabinet meeting. the Election Commissioner admits in hindsight that this may have been misconstrued, but his intention “was purely educational. ”
As for his friendship with the governor, Uiagalelei said he thinks of himself as a professional teacher of government and will do everything possible to safeguard its political institution and democratic way of life.
Acknowledging Faoa’s statement about their own friendship, Uiagalelei said he respects and cherishes their present relationship having worked together in previous administrations and in fact he had worked under Faoa’s leadership in the last two previous administration.
He told Faoa, “rest assured that irrespective of any personal relationship I may have with any candidate, I will not allow any such relationship to impede my responsibility to maintain an impartial and fair election process.”
