7:00 pm: Samoa’a Office of Electoral Commission released the official results of the 2021 general elections.
Except for one constituency or district in which the winner was changed after the counting of special votes yesterday, all other results remained unchanged.
At the constituency of Palauli 1, Leota Laki Sio, a former CEO of the National Health Services, was declared the winner. Leota, a FAST candidate had trailed FAST colleague Tiatia Laulu Mapesone in the preliminary results on Friday.
Voters in 48 of Samoa’s 51 constituencies had gone to the polls for a five day period last week to elect members of Parliament for the next five years.
Three constituencies decided to return their MPs unopposed: Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Human Right Protection Party (HRPP) Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, leader of the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa Ua Tasi, (FAST) Party and HRPP member Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi.
The election results which were made official by the writ of elections issued by the Head of State were published on the OEC FaceBook page after 7pm.
Click here for the full list of winners:Warrant-of-Election
The official results have not changed the party membership who have won seats. It’s still 25 seats each for HRPP and FAST and one Independent.
All eyes are now on Independent Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio as to which side he will join.
HRPP and FAST have gone into camp while Tuala, touted the Kingmaker, has not given any hints as to his preference. Insiders tell KHJ News that matais of Tuala’s constituency have visited the HRPP leader and pledged Tuala’s vote for his party.
But there’s been no confirmation from the man himself whether that will happen.The date given for Parliament to convene is April 26 but if either party presents to the Head of State evidence of a clear majority, the order to convene doesn’t have to wait until then.
