It’s now FAST Party-26 and HRPP-17.
Seven districts will be heading to the polls again in by-elections triggered by election petitions stemming from the April 9 general elections.
HRPP election winner caretaker Minister of Education, Loau
Keneti Sio has resigned, opting to go back to a by-election for Sagaga 1.
Loau was accused by FAST candidate Papalii Tavita Moala of treating and bribery and he countered with his own petition accusing Papalii of the same charges.
Papalii announced yesterday he will not be contesting the by-election and Loau told TV1 Samoa he has not yet decided whether or not to run again.
Another HRPP winner, Lea’ana Ronnie Posini, also announced yesterday he was resigning his Safata 1 seat.
Both Leaana and petitioner Afemata Palusalue Faapo II have decided in a mutual agreement to go back to the polls.
And another HRPP election winner has stood down and will not contest the resulting by-election for the A’ana 2 constituency.
Aiono Afaese Toleafoa, the son of retired MP and former Speaker Leaupepe Faafisi, resigned just before the hearing of a petition against him by Lolomatauama Eseta Mataituli, a female candidate for FAST.
Meanwhile caretaker Prime Minister and leader of the Human Rights Protection Party, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has disclosed that the recent spate of election petition withdrawals is a strategic move to avoid facing what he described as biased court decisions against HRPP candidates.
“We have decided to let the people decide by going back to by-elections,” he told Samoa media yesterday.
Tuilaepa told TV 1 Samoa that it is clear that when a HRPP candidate is accused in an election petition they are penalised but when Faatuatua I le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) Party candidates are accused they get away without conviction.
He said the loss by HRPP winner Fiugalu Eteuati Eteuati of Aleipapa Itupa I Lalo district was questionable after petitioner and HRPP candidate Tafua Maluelue Tafua told the court he had also given money to voters.
